3.4.7 Monitoring the performance of a Cochrane Field

Once a Field has become registered, its performance is monitored fully every two years and monitored financially in the intervening year, by the Monitoring and Registration Committee of the Steering Group. The process is chiefly one of self- assessment to help the Monitoring and Registration Committee gain an overall picture of how Fields work and to identify any common or individual difficulties Fields are experiencing. The Monitoring form for Fields is included in Annex A2.D.

The purpose of the monitoring process is to maintain or raise the quality and productivity of Cochrane entities by helping them identify areas in which they excel or in which they have not yet achieved their potential. The Monitoring and Registration Committee includes representatives of the five types of Cochrane entity (Cochrane Review Groups, Centres, Fields, Method Groups and the Consumer Network), some of whom have been directly elected to the Steering Group.

The Monitoring and Registration Committee does not regard itself as a censorious body, and will strive to help Cochrane entities that are having particular difficulties. However, if a Field repeatedly fails to perform its core duties adequately, the Monitoring and Registration Group does have the responsibility of asking the Steering Group to consider de-registering the Field.