Strategic Project Management Made Simple, 2nd Edition

4Exploring the Logical Framework Approach

Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood and probably will, themselves, not be realized. Make big plans; aim high in hope and work, remembering that a noble, logical diagram, once recorded, will never not die.

—Daniel H. Burnham, American architect and urban planner

Now that you have learned the underlying concepts of logic and language, let us apply them. This chapter explores how to use the LogFrame matrix and the Four Critical Strategic Questions to drive a solution. You will discover how the LogFrame acts as a higher-level design tool and synchronizes with a variety of project management tools that may already be in use.

A well-thought-out LogFrame can describe a project strategy on a single page for simple projects, and on three pages for a more complex one. For small and medium-size projects, this may be the only tool you need. For larger projects, it offers a wise starting point to be followed by applying other project tools and analytic techniques.

Whenever you see the phrase “develop a LogFrame,” it means to be systematic and thorough in designing your project. The LogFrame is simply a tool to help you do so.

The case study in this chapter looks at how an organization in deep trouble turned itself around.

Equip Leaders with Practical Tools

I vividly remember the dust, the smells, the chaos, and the confusion when I first landed in Dacca, Bangladesh. What a culture shock to travel from the affluent Georgetown ...