Evaluation of the Rhineland-Palatinate State Office for the Preservation of Historical Monuments

The Rhineland-Palatinate State Office for the Preservation of Historical Monuments of the Directorate-General for the Cultural Heritage in Rhineland-Palatinate “encompasses all aspects of practical monument conservation from academic processing of cultural monuments right up to offering concrete support and advice on all activities relating to such monuments"(as of January 2011). Due to its special cultural and academic profile and its social responsibility, it is appropriate for the State Office to periodically undergo an analysis of its strategic orientation and objectives as well as of its performance and results. An evaluation is seen as particularly necessary at this time, given that the Rhineland-Palatinate State Office for the Preservation of Historical Monuments was amalgamated with five other institutions under the umbrella of the Directorate-General for the Cultural Heritage in Rhineland-Palatinate as new Supreme Federal State Authority in 2007. Against this backdrop, the evaluation should help assess the goals, results, structures, and processes of the State Office for the Preservation of Historical Monuments and, if necessary, offer advice on areas for improvement. It is in the interest of a balanced evaluation of the organization that both quantitative and qualitative assessment tools are used. The quantitative data, which will focus on structural and staffing conditions, will be supplemented with qualitative data on the functionality of processes and organizational structures against the background of the underlying self-image of the organization and its individual stakeholders as well as the objectives and potential of the institution being evaluated. In a second evaluation phase, external peer reviewers will support the work of the JGU Center for Quality Assurance and Development with their expertise. It is intended to subsequently use the results of the evaluation to develop a mission statement.