What is a LogFrame?

A Logframe is another name for Logical Framework, a planning tool consisting of a matrix which
provides an overview of a project’s goal, activities and anticipated results.  It provides a structure to
help specify the components of a project and its activities and for relating them to one another.  It
also identifies the measures by which the project’s anticipated results will be monitored. 

The logical framework approach was developed in the late 1960s to assist the US Agency of
International Development (USAID) with project planning.  Now most large international donor
agencies use some type of logical or results framework to guide project design.

Logical Framework Structure

A Logical Framework (or LogFrame) consists of a matrix with four columns and four or more rows
which summarize the key elements of the project plan including:

 The project's hierarchy of objectives.  The first column captures the project’s development
pathway or intervention logic.  Basically, how an objective or result will be achieved.  Each
objective or result should be explained by the objective or result immediately below. 
Although different donors use different terminology, a LogFrame typically summarizes the
following in its first column:
o The GOAL / OVERALL OBJECTIVE/ DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVE
o The PURPOSE / IMMEDIATE OBJECTIVE
o The OUTPUTS
o The ACTIVITIES
In developing a logframe, it is very important to pay attention to how the objectives and results are
formulated.  For reference, see Catholic Relief Services' (CRS) Guidance for Developing Logical
and Results Frameworks.
The second and third columns summarize how the project’s achievements will be monitored and
consists of the following:

 Indicators- a quantitative or qualitative measurement which provides a reliable way to

measure changes connected to an intervention.  In essence “a description of the project’s
objectives in terms of quantity, quality, target group(s), time and place”
 Sources of verification- Describes the information sources necessary for data compilation
that would allow the calculation of indicators.
Developing objectively verifiable indicators must also be a very careful process.  The USAID
provides tips for selecting performance indicators. 
Lastly, the final column lists the following:

 Assumptions -the external factors or condition outside of the project’s direct control that are
necessary to ensure the project’s success.
Example of the Logical Framework Structure and Intervention Logic
 

Logical Frameworks can look very different from one another depending on a donors requirements
and the design team.  The terminology used also differs between donors.  See “The Rosetta Stone
of Logical Frameworks.”  Other similar tools include the Logic Model which is also an overall
summary of a project plan and anticipated results or outcomes.  The following example is more in
the format of a Logic Model:
 

Strengths of the Logical Framework Approach

 It draws together all key components of a planned activity into a clear set of statements to
provide a convenient overview of a project.
 It sets up a framework for monitoring and evaluation where planned and actual results can
be compared.
 It anticipates project implementation and helps plan out development activities.
Weaknesses of the Logical Framework Approach
 It may cause rigidity in program management.
 It is not a substitute for other technical, economic, social and environmental analyses.
 LogFrames are often developed after the activity has been designed rather than used as the
basis for design.
 It can stifle innovative thinking and adaptive management.

Understanding Project Management

Success Criteria
By Megan Keup   |   May 27, 2021

Without knowing what your project success criteria are, can you truly say your
project is successful? Everyone wants their project to be successful, but few take the
time to define what that means.

Let’s say you’ve delivered a product or service on time and within budget—is that
success? It could be, but not if it doesn’t meet stakeholder expectations. Project
success criteria are critical to know if in fact, the project has met those metrics.

How To Define Project Management Success

Project management success is defined by how efficient a project managers achieves

the project’s goals and objectives. Of course, you want to bring in a project before the
deadline and under budget. That’s all about using limited resources in the best way
possible. But at the same time, you need to develop good relationships with all the
stakeholders.

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Stakeholders have expectations that must be managed. Everyone who is invested in

the project has a picture of what success looks like, and it’s critical to understand and
manage those expectations or else there will be stakeholders who feel the project has
failed regardless of meeting the budget, schedule and scope goals.

Another aspect of project management success is the quality of the product or service
delivered. Who cares if you make a widget that won’t work but delivered it on time
and within the approved budget? You have to manage quality and never lose sight of
the benefits that are the core goals and objectives of the project.
That doesn’t mean defining project management success is easy. There are a lot of
factors to take into account and some of them can’t be assessed until long after the
project has closed. Therefore, it’s important to understand project success and project
management success are not the same things.

How To Evaluate Project Management Success

Project success is based solely on how efficiently the project is managed while

delivering on its goals and objectives. With that said, there are six metrics by which
any project’s success is measured:

1. Scope: Achieving the intended results of the project.

2. Schedule: Meeting the deadline, including all milestones.

3. Budget: Delivering the project for the amount agreed upon.

4. Team Satisfaction: Making sure the team feels satisfied with the project.

5. Customer Satisfaction: Get positive feedback from clients, sponsors,

stakeholders, et al.

6. Quality: Achieve expectations of stakeholders.

The great thing about defining project success criteria is that it not only leads you to a
successful project, but also helps future projects. Using success criteria can also be
seen as practice towards continuous improvements by learning from the experience.

What Are Project Success Criteria?

As noted above, project success criteria and project management success are slightly
different. Even these differences can vary from organization to organization, project
to project and even team to team. But basically, we’re dealing with two types of
success.

The first type is related to project management. It’s both about managing the project
efficiently and aligning with the business objectives of the organization. This can be
done through regular meetings, project audits, meeting the timetable and deadlines as
well as reaching the expected quality for the product or service.

The second type is related to the deliverables. When measuring this type of success,
stay focused on what the project has promised to accomplish. You want to reach the
objectives as outlined in the business case for the project, such as getting the product
or service to users and meeting customer satisfaction, etc.

What Are the Three Success Criteria for Projects?

The three success criteria for a project is cost, scope and time (the triple constraint).
While the details might be different depending on the industry, company or objective
of the project, success will live or die on these three factors.

If you can deliver a project on time, within budget and achieve the scope as defined in
the project documents, that is a success. But as we’ve learned, there’s often more
involved and it’s better to get more specific.

For example, it’s not merely bringing the project in or below the budget, but also
creating value for investment and reaping benefits for stakeholders. It’s best to define
what cost, scope and time mean beyond the general idea to get a better sense of what
is a successful project.
Three Things to Keep in Mind when Tracking Success

We’ve been discussing project management success in the abstract. While it’s
important to define project success criteria, it doesn’t speak to what needs to be done
in order to help that success along. Let’s talk about some of the rules to keep the
project on the road to success:

1. Milestones

Defining milestones, which are any important dates in the project, makes a project
more manageable. The most obvious way to set milestones is by marking the end of
any phase and the start of the next. By performing an evaluation test after each phase,
you can see if you’re meeting the planned progress or not. Not only does this
help with tracking, it boosts morale for the team when they complete a major phase of
the project. A happy team is a more productive team, which is a key indicator of
project management success.

2. Communication

Communication greases the wheels in every aspect of project management. Having

a communication plan in place at the start of the project is essential. The more
effective the communication between project members and stakeholders, the less
likely there will be issues that cause delays. Keeping lines of communication open is
key, but so is using reports to communicate vital project data. Use status reports to
check in on the triple constraint in real-time and track actual progress against planned
progress.

3. Use a Project Management Tool

Dynamic project management software provides tools to set up milestones and foster

collaboration where between team members can stay in touch. Using robust project
management software adds efficiencies to the project, which is the very definition of
project management success.

Project Success Criteria

Every project is taken up to achieve certain goals and benefits. Each of these projects has to be carried out

under certain constraints and limitations. At the simplest, a project can be termed as successful when the

expected benefits are realized by completing the project within the constraints.  There may be additional points

which need to be taken care of in a project such as stakeholder expectation, degree of improvement from

current condition, expected use of the product, strategic alignment with organizational goals, political goodwill

etc. While these may sound simple, but defining project success criteria may be filled with generalizations and

ambiguity at the best.

It is very important to define project success criteria unambiguously such that it can be measured and

demonstrated clearly. Project success criteria can be very specific to each project. We can understand and

define success criteria by analysing stakeholder expectations thoroughly. A project success criteria document

can be prepared after thorough stakeholder analysis is done. There is no standard format for creating a success
criteria document. But what is most important is to have such a document.

Clear project success criteria must be identified and documented during the project initiation stage of the

project itself. Stakeholders may have very specific expectations in each project. Success criteria should be

identified in collaboration with the customer and stakeholders. Well analysed and well documented success

criteria in turn will guide the project manager to plan and drive the project accordingly.

The three key factors that can define project success include the following.

 Triple Constraints (The Iron Triangle, of Cost + Scope + Time)

 Realized Benefits
  Stakeholder satisfaction

The project success criteria have to be agreed upon between the project manager and the key stakeholders. The

project success criteria document should also address the below aspects:

 Defining the success criteria

 How each of the criteria will be measured

 How often the measurement will happen

 Who will be responsible for measuring the success criteria

The project goals, objectives and success criteria once formulated need to be clearly communicated to the
entire team. The project manager needs to maintain a balance between realized benefits, stakeholder

satisfaction and performance of project against the triple constraints. Project success criteria will drive proper

project planning to fulfil or exceed all such criteria. Well documented success criteria provide clear direction to

the team as to what they need to achieve. This in turn will improve the chances of project success.