The Enemies of Evidence-Based Approach

The mythical evidence-based approach—

We hear about it all the time from executives and managers.

We read about it all the time in reports, briefs and talks.

We merely don’t see it actually happening very often.

The enemy of evidence-based approach is making decisions based on authority instead of on evidence.

Its archenemy is the total disregard for evidence.

A Legitemacy Test

One of the easy ways to figure out whether your organization is actually taking an evidence-based approach by asking the following three questions:

• What evidence would you need to see to make a decision?
• What evidence would you need to see to change your mind (on the decision)?
• How would you determine what is evidence and what is not? Why?

You’re NOT taking an evidence-based approach if:

• You can’t articulate what the evidence is for making your decisions, or you don’t even need to see it to make them;
• You can’t articulate what new evidence would change your decision, or your decisions wouldn’t even be impacted by any new evidence;
• You can’t articulate how you define and evaluate evidence, or your criteria works and only works for yourself but for no one else.

The Transition To Evidence-Based Approach

An evidence-based approach is a systematic way of making decisions that moves away:

• from “we’ve always done it this way” and to “let’s discover what actually works.”
• from “I have a gut feeling this works” to “the best available evidence consistently demonstrates this outcome.”
• from “because I said so” to “because the consensus of peer-reviewed research and best practices supports it.”
• from applying a one-size-fits-all solution to tailoring interventions to the specific context and values of the stakeholder.
• from anecdotal “success stories” to statistically significant, reproducible results.
• from defending a specific practice to critically appraising whether that practice still holds up under scrutiny.

Three Pillars of the Evidence-Based Approach

Accordingly, we establish three pillars of an evidence-based approach:

• Best available evidence: Utilizing the most current, high-quality scientific data—such as meta-analysis or peer-reviewed research—to identify what is objectively effective or optimal.
• Professional expertise and judgement: Applying the practitioner’s expertise, experience, and “on-the-ground” judgment to interpret the evidence and assess its practical implication.
• Stakeholder values and context: Integrating the unique preferences, ethical concerns, and specific circumstances of the individual or organization being served to ensure the decision/solution is feasible and accepted.

An Integrated Path

Adopting an evidence-based approach is more than a technical requirement; it is a commitment to professional integrity.

Ultimately, the power of the evidence-based approach lies at the intersection of its three pillars—when high-quality evidence meets professional expertise, respects seasoned experience and aligns with the human values, we move beyond simple guesswork or intuition.

It is in this “sweet spot” that we find the most ethical, effective, and sustainable path forward, ensuring our decisions are grounded in reality rather than habit, preference or mere politics.

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