Logical Framework Approach

The Logical Framework Approach (LFA) is a management tool mainly used for designing, monitoring and evaluating international development projects. Variants have come to be known as Goal Oriented Project Planning (GOPP) or Objectives Oriented Project Planning (OOPP).

Background

SBC FINANCIAL is a company headquartered in New York, New York and has partnerships in the United Kingdom, Costa Rica and Bogotá, Columbia. They are a provider of commercial, closed-source products based on voice over internet Protocol (VoIP)technology. targeted to businesses from 500,000 to $3 Million in gross revenue. SBC FINANCIAL products include micro business loan advances. It markets them via call center on demand services.

History

SBC FINANCIAL was co- founded in November 2013 by 2 partners, both of whom were co-founders of Two (2) different call center in the New York Area. First products were brokered based receivables based loans distributed to midsize businesses.

Product

SBC FINANCIAL primarily sells and market's 3rd party vendor products through its call center channel.

SBC FINANCIAL'S product have a 3rd party distributed architecture meaning that they are administrative agents on acting on behalf on clients, SBC FINANCIAL does not own or service any loan or advance product direct.

SBC FINANCIAL'S is a 3rd party call center provider engaged in IP call center operation. It has developed a proprietary call center mechanism; whereas a client and server application for popular IP PBXs that provides IP technology and can provide loan decision in minutes rather than hours.

Description

The text below describes the document, not the global methodology of project design. For the brief description of the LFA as a design methodology, see for example the page [1], and for the thorough description see for example AusGuideline 3.3 The Logical Framework Approach cited in "External links" section.

The Logical Framework takes the form of a four-by-four project table. The four rows are used to describe four different types of events that take place as a project is implemented: the project Activities, Outputs, Purpose and Goal (from bottom to top on the left hand side — see EC web site as under external links). The four columns provide different types of information about the events in each row. The first column is used to provide a Narrative description of the event. The second column lists one or more Objectively Verifiable Indicators (OVIs) of these events taking place. The third column describes the Means of Verification (MoV) where information will be available on the OVIs, and the fourth column lists the Assumptions. Assumptions are external factors that it is believed could influence (positively or negatively) the events described in the narrative column. The list of assumptions should include those factors that potentially impact on the success of the project, but which cannot be directly controlled by the project or program managers. In some cases these may include what could be killer assumptions, which if proved wrong will have major negative consequences for the project. A good project design should be able to substantiate its assumptions, especially those with a high potential to have a negative impact.

Temporal logic model

The core of the Logical Framework is the "temporal logic model" that runs through the matrix. This takes the form of a series of connected propositions:

If these Activities are implemented, and these Assumptions hold, then these Outputs will be delivered
If these Outputs are delivered, and these Assumptions hold, then this Purpose will be achieved.
If this Purpose is achieved, and these Assumptions hold, then this Goal will be achieved.

These are viewed as a hierarchy of hypotheses, with the project/program manager sharing responsibility with higher management for the validity of hypotheses beyond the output level. Thus, Rosenberg brought the essence of scientific method to non-scientific endeavors.

The "Assumptions" column is of great importance in clarifying the extent to which project/program objectives depend on external factors, and greatly clarify "force majeure" — of particular interest when the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) at least briefly used the LFA as the essence of contracts.

The LFA can also be useful in other contexts, both personal and corporate. When developed within an organization, it can be a means of articulating a common interpretation of the objectives of a project and how they will be achieved. The indicators and means of verification force clarifications as one would for a scientific endeavor: "you haven't defined it until you say how you will measure it." Tracking progress against carefully defined output indicators provides a clear basis for monitoring progress; verifying purpose and goal level progress then simplifies evaluation. Given a well constructed logical framework, an informed skeptic and a project advocate should be able to agree on exactly what the project attempts to accomplish, and how likely it is to succeed—in terms of programmatic (goal-level) as well as project (purpose-level) objective.

One of its purposes/early uses was to identify the span of control of 'project management'. In some countries with less than perfect governance and managerial systems, it became an excuse for failure. Externally sourced technical assistance managers were able to say we have implemented all the activities foreseen and produced the outputs required of us, but because of the sub-optimal systems in the country, which are beyond the control of the project's management we have not achieved the purpose(s) and so the goal has not been attained.

Handbooks

The Logical Framework Approach, Handbook for objectives-oriented planning, Fourth edition, NORAD, 1999, ISBN 82-7548-160-0.

Strategic Project Management Made Simple: Practical Tools for Leaders and Teams, by Terry Schmidt. (Wiley, 2009) ISBN 978-0-470-41158-2

The Logical Framework: A Manager's Guide to a Scientific Approach to Design and Evaluation, by Practical Concepts, Incorporated, 1979

References

External links

USAID-related logical framework documents available through USAID's Development Experience System (DEXS).
Working with the Logical Framework Explanations of how the Logical Framework works.
Centre for Informatic Apprenticeship and Resources in Social Inclusion Short description.
AusGuideline 3.3 The Logical Framework Approach
Project Cycle Management Guidelines (European Commission)
Fernando, Renuka. "Getting on With It: Monitoring and Evaluation in the Third Sector" Risk and Regulation. London School of Economics. Winter 2012.