Rainier V.
Almazan
UP-CSWCD
Project Design: Key Questions
⚫ What is the status quo?
⚫ What changes does one hope to
achieve?
⚫ How should the process of change be
organized?
⚫ Who will assume w/c tasks?
⚫ What will it cost?
⚫ What are the risks?
⚫ Can we justify the cost & risks on the basis of
the impacts to be achieved?
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Special Design Concerns
⚫ Integration of national labor
standards
⚫ Promotion of equality
between men & women
⚫ Protection of the
environment
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Steps in Designing a Project
Assumptions
Problem Analysis
Project
Stakeholder Defining Strategic Matrix
Analysis Options Development
Objective
Analysis Work Plan MONITORING
Budget Plan EVALUATION
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Analyzing the Situation:
Common Data-Gathering Methods
⚫ Review of existing information – documents, reports, library, internet, maps,
audio-visual records, etc.
⚫ Observation process – visual inspection is one of the most common
methods when there is little time, but requires assessors who are
experienced & can identify trends and indicators quickly.
⚫ Face-to-face activities--Meetings, discussions, interviews
⚫ Rapid (Rural) Appraisal—a “quick but fairly clean” research w/ results of less
precision but greater evidential value, than classic quantitative survey
techniques.
⚫ Sample surveying using statistical methods.
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Analyzing the Situation: Common Analytical Tools
⚫ problem analysis;
⚫ stakeholder analysis;
⚫ objectives analysis;
⚫ identification of risks; &
⚫ selection of strategic option.
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Tool: Problem Tree
⚫ Involves identifying the main problems;
establishing cause and effect relationships
between problems.
⚫ Key purpose of this analysis is ensure ‘root
causes’ are identified & subsequently addressed in
the project design, not just the symptoms of the
problem(s).
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Problem Tree: Example 1
AUSAID
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Problem Tree: Example 2
AUSAID
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Tool: Stakeholder Analysis
⚫ What are stakeholders? Individuals, groups, organizations,
communities, & other entities w/ a “claim” on a resource, social
arrangement, etc. or affected by a problem
⚫ What is Stakeholder Analysis? Ask questions like: Whose problem?
Who benefits the most? Who benefits the least?
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Tool: Stakeholder Analysis
Purpose:
⚫ To better address distributional & social impacts of projects,
programs & policies;
⚫ To identify existing or potential conflicts of interest, &
⚫ Factor appropriate mitigation strategies into activity design.
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SA Matrix Format
AUSAID
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Tool: Objective Tree Analysis
⚫ Definition: Analytical tool to formulate appropriate objectives at
all levels & define their relationships in terms of means & ends.
⚫ Purpose: If problem tree shows cause & effect relationship
between problems, the objective tree shows the means - end
relationship between objectives. This helps develop the project’s
narrative description.
⚫ Prerequisite: Problem Tree & Stakeholder analysis
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Relationship Between
Problem Tree & Objective Tree
PROBLEM TREE OBJECTIVE TREE
Effects Dev’t Goals
Focal problem Project Purpose/
Objectives
Causes Outputs
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Objective Tree Analysis:Questions to ask
⚫ Are the statements clear and unambiguous?
⚫ Links between each statement logical and reasonable? (Will the achievement of one, help
support the attainment of another that is above it in the hierarchy?)
⚫ Is there a need to add any other positive actions and/or statements? More detail may be
required.
⚫ Do the risks to achieving the objectives and also having sustainable outcomes appear to
be manageable?
⚫ Are the positive actions at one level sufficient to lead to the result above?
⚫ Is the overall structure simple and clear? Simplify if possible or necessary.
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Sample Objective Tree based on
Problem Tree Example 2
AUSAID
Sample Objective Tree based on
Problem Tree Example 2
AUSAID
Defining Strategic Options: Questions to ask
⚫ Should all of the identified problems and/or objectives be tackled, or a selected few?
⚫ What is the combination of interventions that are most likely to bring about the desired
results and promote sustainability of benefits?
⚫ What are the likely capital and recurrent cost implications of different possible
interventions, and what can be realistically afforded?
⚫ Which strategy will best support gender equality, NLS promotion, environment
protection?
⚫ Which strategy will most effectively support institutional strengthening
objectives? &
⚫ How can negative impacts on gender equality, NLS or environment be best mitigated?
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A word about Objectives vs. Outputs
A PROVERB:
“One can lead a horse to
water, but one cannot make
it drink.”
Translated into design concept…
⚫ A thirsty horse is the problem.
⚫ The fountain, the rope & man are inputs.
⚫ Leading the horse to the fountain is an activity.
⚫ The horse should have drunk from the fountain is an
output.
⚫ The thirst of the horse should have been addressed by the water
fountain is an objective.
⚫ To improve the health of horses is the purpose.
⚫ A herd of happy horses is the overall goal.
Outputs vs. Objectives
⚫ Outputs are tangible deliverables i.e. goods (i.e. computer manual),
services (i.e. computer repair shop) or desired behavioral
manifestations (i.e. can demonstrate through exercise computer
typing)
⚫ Impact/Results—effects of OUTPUTS.
⚫ Thus, the fountain & the drinking behavior are outputs. Access to
such fountain & benefits (improved health of the horse) derived
from such access are impacts or results.
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References
⬡ [Link] Introduction to Project Managagement: Indigenous Leadership Institute
⬡ Hand outs on Project Management
⬡ [Link] What is Project Management
⬡ [Link]
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