Credit: medpatnership.com

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) of Northern Ireland case study provides an opportunity for you to be creative and to imagine that you are developing appropriate evaluation devices and performance measures. As a public manager, you may be asked to develop these criteria as part of the strategic change process.


The DARD objectives appear to be quite ambitious and include a rather ambiguous strategic vision for the community to be a “thriving and sustainable rural community and environment in Northern Ireland” along with an aim to “be a department that puts customers first…and is focused on making a difference.” From here, four goals are conveyed that are supplemented by five actions that are believed to complement and facilitate the realization of the goals/aims.

Discuss some of the improvements that the plan has brought about, and explain whether the implemented changes brought about positive long-term change and if the performance measures indicate that the strategic plan was a success.