When Logic Doesn't Seem Necessarily Logical

Ever since I started this position back in October I was told that Logic Models would need to be developed. I did a bit of background research on them, happened to be in a state science leadership team where we were developing one, attended a webinar on designing them, and read some materials forwarded to me about them. So I had some background about what they are, the components and even why they could prove valuable. The thing I lacked was experience developing them.

So by December I sat down and over a period of a couple days cranked out some ideas for Logic Models to guide the work of our grant. There are 3 goals to our grant and a total of 12 objectives under these goals. This seemed a logical enough place to start in my mind. So I did. There are 12 models anyway, not sure of the logic. Particularly when I think about the whole idea behind a Logic Model, to help in planning a project. How was I ever going to plan a five year project of this immensity alone? That is illogical.

Then on Tuesday our UNI TQP team met with the DE TQP team and the University of Iowa Evaluation team and got down to the (logical) business of Logic Models. Don Yarbrough started off the day with background information so that we were all (logically) on the same page, so to speak. His analogies were good for me and helped some. He likened Logic Models to an X-ray in that they show the anatomy and physiology of a project. The Bone Structure are the 5 features: needs & beneficiaries, resources & inputs, activities, outputs, and outcomes. When he used the phrase starting with the end in mind, I found a connection. It makes sense to start with a specific outcome and backwards map. Aha, I thought, I may be onto something. And then the non-logical point for me came. That is that Logic Models only make sense if they are in a deep level of detail. Wow, there goes the game for the random, non-sequential thinker that I am . . .

But back to the Logic Models. It does now make sense to not map for each of the objectives and it also makes sense that some of the outcomes will feed each other and some are parallel existers and influencers. As Don said, the process and the models are organic. I can live with that logic.

Now to the business of building models on things like Collaborative Team, Assessment Team, Faculty Recruitment, and Pilot Development. Logic Models, where did they ever get that name? How about Planning Maps? or Outcome Evaluation?

Wish me well as I sit down and try to pick up from where our group left off on Tuesday . . .