Готовый перевод Логико-Структурный подход и его применение для анализа и планирования деятельности / Project Planning using the Logical Framework Approach (TBC): ЧТО ТАКОЕ ЛСП? ОТКУДА ОН ВЗЯЛСЯ? ЗАЧЕМ ЕГО ИЗУЧАТЬ?

Abbreviation LFA means Logical Framework Approach.

What's that? As you can see from the name, it's an approach, an algorithm or sample set of actions which is written with steps.

What do these steps entail? They entail an opportunity to compose an action program, to develop a strategy for achieving some specific purpose.

These actions can be directed towards solving both scientific and everyday problems, production planning, teaching children or adults – towards practically everything.

The only question is how to use the approach properly.

It’s hard to believe in universality of this approach. How one can compare research work, material for scientific articles, and, for example, sauna building on a garden site?
In the very conception of LFA, the key word is “logical”.

Because logic is one of the principles, which all the human society is based on.

Logic exists in all spheres of human activity.

Considerable part of his actions a man does basing on his own forecasts: when puts on a coat in winter; when schedules to do something till evening, because in evening he will be tired (he works in the daytime and he’s getting tired in the process) and in the evening it will be already dark (in the end of a day the sun goes down), that is man builds cause-effect relations between events and facts.

The main function of logic, after all, is a research on how to obtain new statements on the basis of old statements.

In Logical Framework Approach we use analysis of logical regularities: if we have information about some events happened (for example, it has been raining, now the sun is shining), we can make the conclusion about events will take place after that (we look at the sky, looking for the rainbow).

LFA itself was created in the late 60-ies of XX century by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for planning, management and evaluation of international development activity.

For decades this approach was successfully used for activity planning by different international organizations, among which there are Agricultural Development Bank, Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), International Labour Organization (ILO), Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), International Development Association (IDA), Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) and United Nations (UN).

At one time a tutorial on project cycle management based on LFA was published by European Commission.

To present day the presence of Logical Framework Matrix (LFM) in fact is a standard for preparation of application for funding of different kinds of projects not only in Europe and USA, but in many post-soviet countries.

Logical Framework Matrix visually demonstrates that strategy of activity which we realize in result of using LFA, and, at the expense of it, it is a kind of language of managers of projects and organizations, donors and grantors.

If you understand that language, even better – if you can speak it, you have a significant advantage towards your colleagues who aspire to the project financing on the same program.

You can successfully conduct business negotiations with international partner, even if you don’t know English language and use an interpreter.

However, according to the statics, an interpreter misrepresents from 20 to 60 percents of information in interpretation, depending on the degree of interpreter’s professionalism and comprehension.

But if you understand the language at least a bit, you will be able to control the quality of interpretation and correct the situation in the critical moment by pointing out the mistake.

Exactly in the same way, if you know the terminology and principles for building a Logical Framework Matrix, you can control the work of invited consultant or evaluate the work of employee who is instructed to prepare a LFM project.

But why is it LFA that is chosen to be an implicit (and at times required) standard? When planning activities, we define a general purpose at a level of final project result, of effect of its realization (changing of the world around us), the purpose of the project (desired general result) and requirements for reaching it (intermediate results or goals), and we define our course of action.

We try to foresee possible obstacles and assign responsibility, to compose a concrete work plan and evaluate the time and money needed for reaching the assigned purpose.

As a result of going through all the cycle of LFA stages, we can build an above-mentioned Logical Framework Matrix (LFM), which makes it possible for us to assess assigned tasks, presented work plan for their implementation and all the influencing factors.

The matrix itself is a table, which consists of all the key Information: general purposes of the project and intermediate stages, by which to judge of working efficiency, to see factors which may affect the work process and comprehend how the project will be monitored.

Moreover, all the information is compactly placed, and person, interested in analysis or assessment of the project, can easily follow the existing logical links between individual elements looking through such a table or, on the contrary, mark obvious lack of them.

How can LFA be useful for employees who deal with realization of the project? First and foremost, for competent work organization.

It includes correct formulation of activity goals, explanation of functional role in achievement of general results for every participant, explanation of responsibilities, imposed to participant and his colleagues, and of criteria by which his work will be evaluated.

Because if human comprehends what he does and what for, and, moreover, knows who can help him, what he should receive as a result and who need this result, he will work better (on conditions that he likes his work).

So, it’s LFA – Logical Framework Approach.

It’s universal approach for planning of any project activity, intended for solution of your current problem and for management and control of that activity.

In the process you receive Logical Framework Matrix – preliminary plan of work on the problem (goal attainment).

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Переведено на Нотабеноиде
http://notabenoid.org/book/24693/82069

Переводчики: Andrea, SHiP