Evidence-based decision-making is a process that emphasizes making decisions based on explicit, purposeful, and judicious use of evidence. This approach relies on the analysis of objective empirical evidence, often expressed through data, for rational, logical, and structured decision-making. Federal initiatives such as the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 and its successor, the Government Performance and Results Modernization Act of 2010, have helped propagate the use of data-driven decisions approach to all levels of government.

The School of Government offers several courses on evidence-based decision-making for local and state governments in North Carolina. In our Evidence-Based Decision-Making Course Series initiative, we bring together our new and existing courses to offer a systematic pathway for public managers to develop the toolkit they need to excel in their missions. Participants completing the series will be able to appreciate and apply evidence-based methodologies to improve service delivery and programmatic outcomes.

The Evidence-Based Decision-Making Course Series includes the following one-day courses, preferably taken in order: