An Easier Way to Plan: Tearless Logic Models

Posted by nnlmneo on April 10th, 2015 Posted in: Blog

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Are you apprehensive when someone says it’s time to do “outcome-based planning using a logic model?” The Wichita State University Community Psychology Practice and Research Collaborative, and the Community Psychology Doctoral Program in Wichita, KS, have come up with an easy way to do logic models. This is described in an article, “Tearless Logic Model,” in the Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice.

Their goal was to create a facilitated, non-intimidating logic model process that would be more likely to be used in planning.  This approach is designed to give community-based groups, faith-based organizations, smaller nonprofits and people with little experience in strategic planning greater impact when planning community projects.

Tearless Logic Model planning requires only flip charts, magic markers, blue painters’ tape and a safe space to work with a group.  Jargon is eliminated, and is replaced with simple terms that anyone can understand.  For example, instead of asking “what are the anticipated impacts,” a facilitator would ask, “if you really got it right, what would it look like in 10 or 20 years?”

The step by step process that anyone can use is found in their article http://www.gjcpp.org/en/tool.php?issue=7&tool=9 as well as links to a Prezi visual guide and the full PDF that includes a helpful template.

Ashlee D. Lien, Justin P. Greenleaf, Michael K. Lemke, Sharon M. Hakim, Nathan P. Swink, Rosemary Wright, Greg Meissen. Tearless Logic Model. Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice [Internet].  2011 Dec [cited 2015 Apr 10];2(2). Available from http://www.gjcpp.org/pdfs/2011-0010-tool.pdf