THE VALUE SYSTEM
Explore your practitioner profile
A scenario-driven approach to professional reflection
Every evaluation practitioner brings a unique combination of strengths, instincts, and values to their work. But how often do we stop to examine what actually drives our professional choices?
The VALUE System uses an RPG-inspired character-building approach to help you explore your practitioner identity. Through 20 real-world scenarios, you'll make choices that reveal your natural orientation across five core traits, and discover which practitioner archetype best captures your professional style.
⏱ Approximately 15 minutes to complete your character sheet
ALREADY HAVE A CHARACTER?
Enter your retrieval code to access your character sheet.
YOUR BACKSTORY
Every character has an origin. This information shapes your character sheet and helps us understand the context of your professional journey so far.
THE SCENARIOS AHEAD
You're about to face 20 situations that evaluation practitioners commonly encounter. These are moments where your instincts and values come into play.
WHY SCENARIOS?
Anyone can say "I'm good at stakeholder engagement" or "I value ethics." But how we actually respond when facing real situations reveals something deeper about our professional orientation.
These scenarios don't test your knowledge. They surface the approaches you naturally gravitate toward.
HOW THIS WORKS
For each scenario, you'll see 6 possible approaches.
- All of them are professionally valid responses
- None of them is "the right answer"
- Each reflects a different blend of values and priorities
Select 2 options that feel most like YOU.
Choose what you would genuinely do. Not what sounds impressive or what your organisation might expect, but what you would actually do based on who you are right now.
If only one option fits, select it and then choose "No other option feels right" as your second selection.
A NOTE ON LIMITATIONS
These 20 scenarios can't capture every situation, and 6 options can't represent every possible response. We know that.
This is a lens for reflection, not a comprehensive assessment. Use it as a starting point for thinking about your practice.
Stakeholder Resistance
You're leading an evaluation where key stakeholders are resistant to participating. They view evaluation as a compliance exercise rather than a learning opportunity.
Select 1 or 2 approaches you would personally feel confident taking:
CHOOSE YOUR PROFICIENCIES
Every practitioner develops expertise in particular areas of the craft.
Before we explore how you approach challenges, let's establish what you can already do. Select the skills where you have genuine capability, not what you aspire to, but what you can reliably do today.
These proficiencies will appear on your character sheet.
Your Professional Skills
Select your TOP 5 professional skills from the categories below.
Calculating Your Profile
Character Sheet
Ability Scores
The Methods Architect
"Designing sophisticated evaluation approaches"
You excel at creating innovative methodologies...
Key Strengths
- Methodological innovation
The Quality Steward
"Maintaining rigorous standards"
A complementary orientation...
Complementary Strengths
- Quality assurance
Proficiencies
- Interview Facilitation
Development Quests
- Building stakeholder engagement
Ideal Party Members
- Relationship Artisan
My Responses
A reflection of your choices across all scenarios
Below are all the scenarios you encountered and the approaches you selected. Use this as a prompt for reflection or discussion about your evaluation practice.
The 21 VALUE Classes
A framework for understanding evaluator development
Purpose of the Classes
The 21 VALUE classes represent distinct archetypes within the evaluation profession. Each class captures a unique combination of strengths, orientations, and development pathways that practitioners may embody at different points in their careers.
These classes are designed to help you:
- Reflect on your current professional identity and practice orientation
- Recognise your distinctive strengths and contributions to the field
- Identify areas for growth and professional development
- Connect with complementary practitioners who can enhance your work
How to Interpret Your Class
Not Fixed, But Evolving
Your class reflects where you are now, not where you'll always be. As you gain experience and develop new skills, your class may shift and evolve.
Interpretive, Not Definitive
Classes offer an interpretive lens on your practice orientation. They highlight tendencies and strengths rather than absolute categories.
All Classes Have Value
Higher tiers reflect broader experience, not greater worth. Every class contributes essential perspectives to evaluation practice.
Complementarity Matters
The best evaluation teams combine different classes. Your secondary class and complementary classes point to valuable collaborations.
Explore each class in detail below to understand their unique characteristics, strengths, and development pathways.
About the VALUE System
What is the VALUE System?
The VALUE System is a professional development framework designed for evaluation practitioners. It assesses your natural orientation across five core traits:
- Versatility: Adaptability across contexts and methods
- Acumen: Sharp analytical thinking and reasoning
- Leadership: Guiding and coordinating people
- Understanding: Perceptiveness of context and perspectives
- Ethics: Moral compass and professional integrity
How It Works
Through 20 scenario-based questions, you'll reveal your professional profile. Based on your responses, you'll be assigned a primary and secondary class from our library of 21 unique practitioner archetypes.
About First Person Consulting
First Person Consulting is a specialist evaluation consultancy dedicated to building evaluation capacity across the sector. The VALUE System represents our commitment to professional development and reflective practice.