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Program Logic and Performance Assessment (PLPA) Framework
The Program Logic and Performance Assessment (PLPA) Framework helps to generate succinct statements of how the organisation delivers social impact at the program level and to assess program performance.
For managers and funders of non-profit organisations the challenges associated with demonstrating program impact and efficiency are legendary. Social outcomes are often difficult to measure and program evaluations require time and money. On the flip side, an inefficient or ineffective performance assessment process impacts the ability of staff and management to make sound strategic and operational decisions and erodes staff and funder confidence. As many of us know, organisational success increasingly requires clear demonstrable evidence of program success.
SVA’s Program Logic and Performance Assessment Framework is a way of navigating through this process with greater precision. It provides a guided and structured way of approaching and thinking about the work. This in turn makes it easier for your team to generate the questions and answers that enable your organisation to work effectively and efficiently.
The PLPA Framework is not the only way to approach program logic and performance assessment. It is based on several well established management tools specifically designed for the non-profit sector, most notably the Triple P tool developed by David James and Tim Gleeson.
The PLPA Framework involves four steps:
1. Describing program process and logic
This is established by unpacking your program across six dimensions: - Macro societal issue
- The participants
- Activities you conduct with your participants
- Outputs
- Outcomes
- Macro societal impact
2. Confirming program logic is sound
Once you have described your program process and logic you need to check that your program logic is sound. This involves a review of your Theory of Change. The Theory of Change links the components of your program together into a logical flow. It tells us how we know that when our participants engage with us in these activities, we get these outputs, which lead to these outcomes for the participants, which has this total social impact.
Click here to define the term ‘Theory of Change’ in our Dictionary of Terms
3. Quantifying the resources required to run the program
This step involves identifying all the infrastructure, money and human resources required to run the program.
4. Assessing program performance
This final step enables us to determine what is working and what is not for this program, and how it can be improved in order to better meet our participant’s needs. There are a few key questions it is helpful to ask ourselves.
- How effective is our program? What did we think we were going to achieve, and did we achieve it?
- How efficient is our program? How does our use of resource compare with other organisations?
 More Information
For additional details on the Program Logic and Performance Assessment framework, download and read this more comprehensive description.
Testimonial
'For me one of the most valuable lessons I’ve learnt is how to approach refining the complexity of our various program "purposes" and distilling them with clarity. The Program Logic approach is bringing some rigor to Childsafe’s program logic, planning and assessment.'
Dave Boldy, Kid Safe, Western Australia
Taste Test
Since a tool is best understood when it is actively applied, we have included here two steps from the Program Logic and Performance Assessment (PLPA) framework. It provides you with an opportunity to work through an assessment of your program’s process and logic, and to review and calculate the total resources you require to run your program.
To find out more about SVA Organisational Tools contact Lisa Hagan on (02) 8004 6722. Click here to learn more about SVA Workshops or SVA Consulting  Back to Top | 
SVA's online organisational tools are proudly supported by the Macquarie Group Foundation. |
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