Design Layer / Information Coordination
Madison Civic Shared Evaluation Findings Exchange Layer
A coordination prototype for improving how evaluation findings from programs, pilots, and initiatives are shared across agencies, nonprofit organizations, foundations, and research institutions throughout the Madison civic ecosystem.
Prototype overview
The Madison Civic Shared Evaluation Findings Exchange Layer proposes a structured coordination surface supporting compatibility between evaluation environments across policy domains such as housing, transportation, workforce development, public health, sustainability, and neighborhood services.
The prototype does not replace institutional reporting systems. It improves coordination by making evaluation findings easier to interpret across sectors working within related implementation environments.
Coordination gap
Institutions across Madison regularly evaluate programs and initiatives, but findings are typically distributed across departmental reports, nonprofit documentation environments, and research publications without shared coordination infrastructure.
Without a shared evaluation findings exchange layer, organizations may duplicate learning efforts or miss opportunities to apply lessons from related initiatives.
- evaluation findings are distributed across institutional documentation environments
- cross-domain learning opportunities remain unevenly visible
- pilot evaluation results may not transfer between sectors
- organizations may duplicate assessment frameworks
- implementation lessons may remain isolated within individual initiatives
Proposed coordination mechanism
The Shared Evaluation Findings Exchange Layer would function as a structured visibility interface describing relationships between evaluation environments across agencies and organizations.
- visibility into evaluation findings across policy domains
- alignment between research and implementation evaluation environments
- connections between pilot outcomes and scaling decisions
- support for shared learning across institutions
- routing between organizations evaluating related initiatives
Likely participating actors
This coordination layer would be strongest if supported by institutions already conducting evaluation activities across the Madison civic ecosystem.
- City of Madison departments
- Dane County agencies
- Madison-area nonprofit organizations
- University of Wisconsin–Madison research programs
- Madison Community Foundation
- regional planning partnerships
Why this belongs in the Design Layer
This entry belongs in the Design Layer because it describes a coordination structure improving exchange between evaluation environments already operating within the Madison ecosystem.
The evaluation exchange layer represents a reusable information-coordination pattern supporting cross-sector learning continuity across institutional systems.
Reusable pattern
Many cities conduct strong evaluation work across institutions without shared coordination infrastructure connecting findings. A shared exchange layer improves alignment between learning environments and implementation pathways.
Within Systems Atlas, this prototype defines an information-coordination structure supporting cross-sector evaluation knowledge exchange.