Overbliksvurderinger

Overbliksvurderinger, or overview assessments, are a type of assessment used in Nordic educational, social, and organizational contexts to provide a concise, high-level picture of a person, group, program, or situation. They are designed to support decision-making by summarizing key strengths, needs, and options without delivering an in-depth diagnostic analysis.

Characteristics include being rapid and often descriptive or semi-quantitative. They use predefined indicators and draw on multiple information sources such as interviews, records, observations, and documentation. The result is typically a short summary report that identifies priorities and suggests actions.

Usage spans several domains. In education, they may map a student’s overall learning status or progress. In social services, they can outline a citizen’s support needs. In project management, they provide a current snapshot of program status to guide planning and resource allocation.

Overbliksvurderinger are distinct from formal, in-depth assessments; they favor breadth and speed over depth and are intended as decision-support tools rather than definitive judgments. They are often repeated at intervals to monitor development over time.

Limitations include potential oversimplification and subjectivity, a dependence on data quality, and the risk of misinterpretation if used without follow-up diagnostics. To mitigate these risks, findings are typically accompanied by clear criteria, transparent methods, and explicit next steps.

Related concepts include needs assessments and formative or summative assessments. In practice, an overbliksvurdering serves as an initial, integrative step that informs further evaluation, planning, and intervention.