Understand how using a programme logic can help you better plan for impact from your science.
Planning for Impact is all about using programme logics to help you better 'connect the dots' between what you'll do and produce (your activities and outputs) and what others will do and produce to make the difference you agree you want to make in the world - your impact.
MBIE has identified their desire and expectation that the RS&I sector makes better use of the results-chain framework when planning and delivering our research. Programme logics are the key tool in this framework.
Takeaway points
- Programme logics help you understand, visualise and share the 'line of sight' from research to impacts.
- The process feels and looks messy, especially when you're unpacking the outputs -> outcomes, and confirming the activities that are needed.
- Get others involved, and if you can, involve an expert to facilitate the process at least early on.
- Give yourself time to develop them properly, and have people in the room who can offer diverse perspectives.
- If you and your stakeholders can see yourselves in the programme logic, you've done a good job. This means thinking about the language you're using when developing them (try and keep it simple but specific, and using words everyone understands)
- Programme logics are never finished, updating them regularly is a great way to capture and communicate your evolving plan and understanding of the outcomes and impacts you're contributing to.
- There is a lot of potentially confusing jargon in this area - don't let it confuse or distract you. The logic from inputs and activities, to outputs, outcomes, and impacts is what matters - that's results-chain thinking.
- Left to right? Bottom to top? Programme logics can be oriented in various ways. There is no right way, so apply the same advice as above, focus on the logic.
- Developing programme logics is a skill, so getting help along the way is advisable where possible.
Key resources
In our workshop for this module we use the Beyond Results programme logic template as our 'go to' tool. Scroll down for links to this and a few others to help you develop your own programme logics.
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Check our glossary page to help you navigate some of the confusing jargon that gets used with these tools.
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AgResearch has led the way in championing the use of programme logics when planning and delivering research, leveraging off their Adoption and Practice Change Roadmap.
Through this work they developed the Beyond Results website to share resources that support research achieve more impact. Do check out the whole website, and to access specific guidance on the development and use of programme logics click here. This combined with the Impact Planning Tool is a great starting place. Make sure you watch the short videos too. |
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MBIE's position paper on the impact of research provides helpful guidance on developing programme logics/results chains, with some worked examples.
For more on where the results chain framework came from, we suggest skimming through the core reference books the World Bank and the OECD have developed. These (and others) are listed on the Making Sense of Impact page. |
Other resources and links
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The Ministry of Primary Industries has been requiring the development of programme logics for some time.
If you google MPI + programme logics or MPI + outcomes logics (the terminology they routinely use) you'll find a bunch of potentially useful examples. |
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Our National Science Challenges have also been using programme logics.
An example included in our workshop was developed for the Bioheritage NSC, as it uses the Beyond Results template. Check it out on page 4 here.
An example included in our workshop was developed for the Bioheritage NSC, as it uses the Beyond Results template. Check it out on page 4 here.
Our Australian colleagues also champion the use of programme logics, and have some great online resources.
- Check out this page from the Australian Institute for Family Studies for lots of tips and resources (including a video).
- The Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne also has a great set of resources to support research impact. Check out their page on programme logics here, which also has some nice short videos.
- Don't forget the resources that CSIRO also have available. We've posted links to these on the Making Sense of Impact page.
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EvaluATE is the evaluation resource hub for the Advanced Technological Education Program funded by the US National Science Foundation.
They have some great guidance on programme logics (logic models). One of our favourites is this blog post 'Getting the Most out of Your Logic Model' which is consistent with our own experience - especially the role programme logics can play in helping the process of writing a clear bid or proposal. In addition to their template (which is linked on the blog post), they also have some simple worked examples. While these are in a different context, you may still find them helpful. |
Interested in more?
The resources section has a wealth of great resources and websites on all the linked activities associated with planning and delivering more impactful science.
The resources section has a wealth of great resources and websites on all the linked activities associated with planning and delivering more impactful science.
Got a suggestion for other resources or have a question?
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