A useful, values-oriented human resource development (HRD) program evaluation approach is one that is empirical with its orientation derived from a social/technical perspective. The optimum mix between the technical skills of evaluation and the required social skills of evaluation delivery is crucial for the quality assurance process. The core to this approach is grounded in the interrelationship of three continua: (1) the general context of training, education, and development; (2) time dimensions; and (3) action components such as source, types, and collection methods for data. The most critical dimension of the socio-technical continuum approach is time. A general framework can be provided to indicate the initial considerations and the immediate, intermediate, and long-term positions. The direction for evaluation design and understanding of evaluation results should be considered under the initial considerations area by means of evaluation issues, participant and management expectations, and the projected results on future decision-making. The day-to-day development and management of quality assurance tasks focus on the levels of information, sources of data, and methods of collecting data. Evaluating the evaluation can be achieved through the following technical and social components: reliability, validity, utility, credibility, and feasibility. This type of analysis links evaluation to planning and thus to recycling and feedback while also blending judgment with objective evidence. (A 16-item reference section is included.) (BPB)