I know that’s not how the question usually goes, but this is a question we sometimes need to stop and ask ourselves. So often the greatest ideas for social change are ones that start with an action (the cart) rather than a theory for how actions generate the desired outcomes (the horse).
Don’t get me wrong, if we sat around thinking about how to make a difference all day long we would never see anything come to fruition. However, even the best program ideas can benefit from periodically asking “is this program accomplishing what we want it to?” or in the case of new programs “how will this program drive the outcomes we want to achieve?” Here is a great (fictional) example:
Don’t get me wrong, if we sat around thinking about how to make a difference all day long we would never see anything come to fruition. However, even the best program ideas can benefit from periodically asking “is this program accomplishing what we want it to?” or in the case of new programs “how will this program drive the outcomes we want to achieve?” Here is a great (fictional) example:
A well-intentioned group of concerned citizens recognizes a need in their community – high childhood obesity. They know that childhood obesity has numerous negative impacts on children, so they want to help the children in their community get on track to a healthier lifestyle.
What's their solution? A weekend expo with healthy cooking classes from a local celebrity chef and a mile-long fun walk for fitness. The group raises necessary in-kind donations, holds the event, and has a higher than expected turnout. They did a great job implementing their solution and all the attendees had a wonderful time! One year later the childhood obesity rates in their community are even higher. What happened?
What's their solution? A weekend expo with healthy cooking classes from a local celebrity chef and a mile-long fun walk for fitness. The group raises necessary in-kind donations, holds the event, and has a higher than expected turnout. They did a great job implementing their solution and all the attendees had a wonderful time! One year later the childhood obesity rates in their community are even higher. What happened?
This well-intentioned group had a vision for change that they wanted to create in their community and a strategy for how to make it happen. They had the dedication to see that strategy through, and yet somehow their vision didn’t materialize as they had hoped.
The problem: they didn’t fully understand their theory of practice – the LOGIC behind their program. They had the right idea – they wanted to raise awareness, show kids that healthy foods could be tasty, and encourage physical activity – but they didn’t think about the long-range impact of their efforts. As a result, while everyone had a wonderful time at their expo, and probably much awareness was raised, it didn’t impact individual behaviors in a way that changed the overall childhood obesity rates for their community.
What could they have done differently?
The problem: they didn’t fully understand their theory of practice – the LOGIC behind their program. They had the right idea – they wanted to raise awareness, show kids that healthy foods could be tasty, and encourage physical activity – but they didn’t think about the long-range impact of their efforts. As a result, while everyone had a wonderful time at their expo, and probably much awareness was raised, it didn’t impact individual behaviors in a way that changed the overall childhood obesity rates for their community.
What could they have done differently?
While there are many possible solutions here (including collaboration with other agencies or using a different program model), the first step might have been to complete a Program Logic Model to analyze the anticipated short-term and long-range outcomes of the expo. Both as a visual tool and as an exercise, a logic model would have helped the group better understand their underlying assumptions and identify gaps in their program. It would also help them define how they would measure success. They could then act on this to improve their outcomes and implement additional programs or collaborations to build on the expo. This way they would be much more likely to see the change they set out to accomplish!
For more information on Program Logic Models and a template you can use, visit http://www.cnmdallas.org/downloads/Logic_Model_Templates.pdf.
Rachel Leventon, MPA, CVA
Associate Consultant
Rachel Leventon, MPA, CVA
Associate Consultant
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