Planning and development of programs are crucial to any organization. They aid in defining objectives and determine the most effective option and help allocate resources efficiently. But defining and conducting program development isn’t easy–it requires careful consideration of the specific needs and expectations of the various participants. The right approach can lead to a successful development plan that maximizes the impact and ensures everyone is satisfied with the result.
A logic model is an essential instrument used to guide these efforts. It is an image representation of how daily program activities relate to the outcomes you want to achieve. It allows you to think systematically about the way your program will function, including how and when it will impact changes. The model is constructed from left to right, and may contain Arrows to show the time-based sequence of steps.
The first step is identifying all the required inputs. Then you need to identify the most important activities that require those inputs. Then, you can map the expected outputs and, eventually, the intended outcomes (both long-term and short-term). Your model should also reflect the impact these outcomes can have on the audience you are targeting.
Another important part of this process is to discover any risks or challenges that your program may face. Instruments like environmental scanning techniques can help you identify external and internal factors that could impact the success of your program. In addition, this is an excellent time to assess the strengths and weaknesses of your company. Using these findings will help you create strategies that will better position your team for future success.