Planning and Programs Development
Planning and program development are crucial to any organization. They help define objectives and determine the best course of action and efficiently allocate resources. But defining and managing program development isn’t easy–it requires careful consideration of the requirements and expectations of each stakeholders. A well-planned approach can result in a successful plan of development that maximizes impact and ensures that everyone is pleased with the result.
A logic model is a common tool to guide these efforts. This is an illustration that shows how the daily activities of a program relate to the desired outcomes. It helps you think more clearly about how your program should function in order to bring about change for whom, and when. The model is built from left to right, and can include arrows to indicate the temporal sequence of steps.
The first step is to determine all the inputs required. The next step is to determine the primary activities that take advantage of these inputs. Then, you will be able to map the expected outputs, and ultimately the desired outcomes (both short-term and long-term). Then your model should define the effects these outcomes will affect the target audience.
Another aspect of the process is identifying potential risks or challenges your program might face. Tools such as environmental scanning techniques can help you identify external and internal factors that could impact the effectiveness of your program. Additionally, this stage provides an excellent time to assess the strengths and weaknesses of your organization. Using these insights, you can design strategies to better prepare your team for the future.