An overview of logic models, including how they are used, how to build them, best practices, and free templates.
A logic model is a diagram that is used to plan and communicate how a set of desired outcomes will be achieved. They can also be used to identify assumptions, measure performance, and track progress towards an overall objective.
Logic models provide structure and discipline to program planning and execution. They serve as a roadmap, guiding the planning and evaluation process by clearly depicting how intended changes are expected to occur. In their most basic form, logic models include the inputs (such as resources or investments), the activities or interventions that the inputs support, the participants (or constituents affected), the immediate outputs (tangible products or services resulting from the activities), and the short-term, intermediate, and long-term outcomes (the changes or benefits resulting from the outputs). Overall, logic models help stakeholders to understand a program's goals, identify key components and assumptions, and establish a framework for monitoring and assessing the program's effectiveness.
Logic models gained initial their popularity in public sector and research organizations, where they are used for program planning, budgeting, and performance management. More recently, logic models have been popularized in private sector organizations, where they are used effectively for strategic planning and execution.
Common uses of logic models include:
Overall, logic models help to convey a large amount of information in a single, intuitive graphic that shows how multiple investments and activities are expected to unfold into measurable outcomes.
This article includes an example for logic model for a public sector program. Click here to view an alternate version of this article using a private sector model.
The image shown below was taken from Tracker Networks' Essential Strategy system but logic models can be created in presentation files and office productivity documents. Free downloadable templates are included a section below.
The example above is for a school breakfast program. The program seeks to achieve many related short, medium and long-term outcomes including ultimately increasing the percentage of students who graduate. Key components of the model include:
A logic model is not just a description but also a tool for strategic planning, implementation, evaluation, and communication. It helps program managers, funders, and stakeholders to see the intended path of a program and to align expectations and objectives.
Here are some key tips and best practices to help you get the most out of your logic models and performance management process.
While the logical flow of a logic model diagram is from left to right, many users find it helpful to build diagrams from right to left, starting with the outcomes they want to achieve and working back to identify the investments and activities needed to realize them.
This method, often referred to as "backwards mapping," helps ensure that every aspect of the program is intentionally designed to achieve the specific outcomes. By first identifying the long-term goals and then determining the necessary intermediate and short-term outcomes, outputs, activities, and inputs needed to reach these goals, the program can be more strategically aligned and focused on achieving its objectives. This approach also facilitates a clear understanding of the cause-and-effect relationship between different components of the program.
In practice, building logic models is an iterative process, working backwards and forwards to refine a program and plan to its essential elements.
All to often, logic models are used for planning and budgeting process, and then filed away never to be seen again. This is especially the case when logic models are built manually using desktop productivity software, as updating manual documents can be extremely tedious and time consuming.
Some of the greatest benefits of logic models come from "operationalizing" them by turning them into living frameworks that are used to communicate to program participants and measure actual outcomes against a plan. A regular review process can help to answer many fundamental questions about our programs. Is our program achieving what we set out to do? If not, why and what needs to change? Are our assumptions proving correct? If not, do we need to update our plans?
One important way to operationalize logic models is to track the key metrics related to our program. These can include key performance metrics for the outcomes we expect to achieve and key risk indicators for our assumptions and other events that could threaten our success.
An important aspect of logic models that is often overlooked is the identification and active management of program risks. Risks are the uncertain events, that if they were to occur would impact our ability to achieve our plans and desired outcomes. They can be related to our assumptions, our program activities, our participants, and the external environment. By going beyond the external factors section of the logic model to preparing risk management plans proactively, we can achieve our outcomes more consistently and with lower overall costs.
Perhaps the most important best practice of all is to have the discipline to present logic models and interim results to leadership teams and other key stakeholders on a regular recurring schedule. Doing so will help promote a culture of transparency and accountability that will improve performance over time and make it easier to secure future investment. Early and continuous feedback will allow leadership teams to make course corrections faster when needed and when outcomes can still be affected. It will also help identify successes and opportunities for increased investment or resource optimization.
The right software tool, such as the Essential Strategy system Tracker Networks can greatly improve the planning and performance management process, while saving significant time and money. Logic models created manually in documents appear as isolated two-dimensional processes. In reality, many of the elements of logic models are linked to many other other objectives, initiatives, resources, programs etc. Software tools make it easy to manage and explore many-to-many relationships, while providing helpful automation including action plan reminders and updates, metric tracking, user access management, change tracking, reporting and more. A system like Essential Strategy can help bring logic models to life as a plan execution and coordination tool across a distributed team of professionals.
If you would prefer to start with manual logic model diagrams, we have included templates below, in two different file formats.
