Using a Logic Model as a Strategic Planning Tool
In your readings for this week, Watson and Hoefer (2014) provide a general overview of using logic models to define a problem and identify inputs, activities, outputs, and outcomes.
In your initial post, discuss how application of a logic model would be different for a small nonprofit organization, a large federal agency, or the development of a policy for a specific human service program. How would the leader for each of these organizations engage the participants in the process? Cite examples from the reading.
Using a Logic Model as a Strategic Planning Tool
Introduction
A logic model is a tool that can be used to help organizations plan, analyze, and implement strategic initiatives. The logic model consists of multiple layers, each representing an aspect of your company’s business strategy. For example:
What is a Logic Model?
A logic model is a visual representation of the causal relationships between the inputs and outputs of a program or project. It contains all relevant information necessary to make informed decisions about how to manage it.
Outputs are what you want your program or project to produce in terms of results, such as improved customer satisfaction or increased sales volume. Inputs are things that affect these outputs, such as how many customers you have now and where they’re located (or whether they’re located at all).
What is the benefit of using a Logic Model as an organizational strategic planning tool?
A Logic Model is a structured way to organize your strategic planning. It helps you to understand what your program is going to do, how it will be delivered, and the resources required. You can then use this information to develop a plan for implementing your program that aligns with your organization’s goals and objectives.
A Logic Model will help guide you through each step of planning:
Define customer needs with stakeholder interviews and surveys (e.g., demographics). In order to define customer needs effectively, it is important to understand who they are and what they want/need from us; therefore we need firstly an understanding of our own customers’ needs before we can begin identifying potential solutions or opportunities within them which could potentially benefit both ourselves as well as other stakeholders involved in delivering this service or product offering within our organization’s portfolio.”
Who will be affected by the program? How many? At what locations?
You need to determine who will be affected by the program and how many. This can be done in a number of ways, but one simple way is to ask questions like:
How many people in total will be impacted by this project?
Which departments/offices are affected by this project?
You should also consider where your programs are going to take place. If you’re planning on rolling out new initiatives across multiple locations, it makes sense to factor in costs associated with travel expenses when determining how much money your organization should spend on these projects.
What resources are needed to implement the program and sustain it over time? Who will deliver it and how?
You need to be able to answer the following questions:
What resources are needed to implement the program?
Who will deliver it and how?
In order for this type of planning process to be successful, you need a clear idea of what resources will be required in order for your organization’s strategic plan (or any other initiative) to succeed. This can include everything from financial support through training programs or class rooms.
A logic model can be used as a strategic planning tool in organizations
A logic model can be used as a strategic planning tool in organizations. It can help program staff and stakeholders communicate about the program, evaluate their needs, and choose among possible solutions.
A logic model is an Excel spreadsheet that contains information about the goals, resources and outcomes of an organization’s programs. It also includes information about how these programs will affect other areas (such as budgeting or people management). The goal of creating this type of tool is to help you make decisions about what kind of work needs to be done on any given day by different groups within your company—and then prioritize those tasks so that they get done first!
Conclusion
We hope we’ve given you a taste of why logic models can be useful as strategic planning tools. If you find yourself in need of a more detailed explanation, here are some resources to check out:
Logic Models: An Introduction, by Gert A. Kortemeier (ISBN 0201844077), is a great place to start learning about logic models and how they work. It also includes an appendix with practice problems and exercises for practicing your skills with this topic.