1. Session IV: Project Strategy and Goal
Module 3: Project Formulation/Preparation
Sidaroth KONG; September 2016

2. Contents Learning Objective Analysis of Project Strategy
Criteria for Choosing a Project Strategy
Examples of Project Strategy Selection
SMART goal
Exercise

3. Learning Objective
Analysis of Project Strategy
Criteria for Choosing a Project Strategy
Examples of Project Strategy Selection
SMART goal
Exercise

4. 1. Learning Objective
Participants will know how to select project strategy and to formulate SMART goal.

5. Learning Objective
Analysis of Project Strategy
Criteria for Choosing a Project Strategy
Examples of Project Strategy Selection
SMART goal
Exercise

6. 2. Analysis of Project Strategy
“A strategy is a broad approach that has to be followed to achieve a goal.”(WHO, 2011) “Project strategy is a direction in a project that contributes to success of the project in its environment.” (Artto, Kujala, Dietrich, & Martinsuo, 2008)

7. 2. Analysis of Project Strategy
During the strategy analysis, a decision is being made on which objectives can or will and which objectives cannot or will not be pursued within the frame of the project.
The starting point for strategy analysis is the objective tree – which is transformed from the problem tree.
The choice of one ore more strategies is made on the basis of criteria which have to be agreed upon in the project team and/or with the project stakeholders.

8. 2. Analysis of Project Strategy
The following interrelated questions can be used to guide the analysis of project strategy:
Should all identified objectives be selected or only a few?
What is the combination of interventions that most likely brings about the desired results and promotes sustainability?
What are the costs implications of different possible interventions, and what can realistically be afforded?
What is the most cost effective option?

9. 2. Analysis of Project Strategy
The following interrelated questions can be used to guide the analysis of project strategy:
Which strategy will impact most positively the needs or rights of the poor and other identified vulnerable groups?
How can local ownership of the project be best supported, including capacity development of local organizations?
How can potential negative environmental impacts be best mitigated or avoided?

10. Learning Objective
Analysis of Project Strategy
Criteria for Choosing a Project Strategy
Examples of Project Strategy Selection
SMART goal
Exercise

11. 3. Criteria for Choosing a Project Strategy
In practice, a number of compromises often have to be made in order to balance different interests of stakeholders or project team, project context, and practical constraints such as the likely available resources.
Nevertheless, choosing a project strategy can be tactically processed if there is an agreed set of criteria against which to assess the merits of different intervention options.

12. 3. Criteria for Choosing a Project Strategy
A set of criteria could include:
Expected contributions to a broad or national policy or goal such as in the area of poverty reduction, economic integration, education, health, gender equality, environment, and so on.
Provide benefits to target groups including women and men, young and old, disabled and able people.
Complementary to other ongoing or planned programs or projects.

13. 3. Criteria for Choosing a Project Strategy
A set of criteria could include:
Capital and operational cost implications, and local ability to meet recurrent costs.
Financial and economic cost-benefit: costs produce deserving benefits.
Contributions to institutional capacity building.
Technical feasibility: strategy that is technically doable.
Environmental impact: more environmental friendly or mitigate adverse affects.

14. 3. Criteria for Choosing a Project Strategy
Using these criteria will help to determine what should or can be included within the scope of the project, and what should not or cannot be included.
The selected strategy will then be used to help formulate the first column, intervention logic or project summary, of the Logframe, particularly in helping to identify the overall objective/goal, purpose/outcome, and results/outputs.

15. Learning Objective
Analysis of Project Strategy
Criteria for Choosing a Project Strategy
Examples of Project Strategy Selection
SMART goal
Exercise

16. 4. Examples of Project Strategy Selection
After agreeing on the criteria for choosing a project strategy:
The project team and stakeholders can start to look at the objective tree
Apply the criteria of strategy selection
And then arrive at a selected objectives path for the project, which is called project strategy selection.

17. 4. Examples of Project Strategy Selection
Objective
Objective
Objective
Objective
Objective
Objective Tree
Ends
Objective: Positive Statement
Objective: Purpose
Objective
Means
Objective
Objective
Tree Image source: Clipartpenda
Objective
Objective

18. 4. Examples of Project Strategy Selection
We will look at two examples of project strategy selection:
“improve the quality of river water”
“reduced infant and maternal mortality rates”.

19. 4. Examples of Project Strategy Selection
Improve the quality of river water
(EC, 2004)

20. 4. Examples of Project Strategy Selection
The starting point of strategy selection is objective tree
Some clusters in the objective tree can be formed or grouped as a theme.
Not all objectives in the objective tree will be selected.
In this strategy selection, the organization chose to intervene in “wastewater strategy” and drop “waste or solid strategy”.
The objectives obtained from the strategy selection will be further used in Logframe at the next step.

21. 4. Examples of Project Strategy Selection
The next example looks at “high infant and maternal mortality rates” as the main problem:
The analysis starts with a problem tree, then transformed it into an objective tree.
Different objectives in the objective tree are clustered into corresponding themes.
Objectives that do not match criteria of strategy selection of the organization are removed.
The objectives obtained from the strategy selection will be further used in Logframe at the next step.

22. 4. Examples of Project Strategy Selection
Problem Tree Analysis: High Infant and Maternal Mortality Rates (ITAD, 1999)

23. 4. Examples of Project Strategy Selection
Objective Tree Analysis: Infant and Maternal Mortality Rates Reduced (ITAD, 1999)

24. 4. Examples of Project Strategy Selection
Strategy Analysis and Selection: Infant and Maternal Mortality Rates Reduced (ITAD, 1999)
Not Selected

25. Learning Objective
Analysis of Project Strategy
Criteria for Choosing a Project Strategy
Examples of Project Strategy Selection
SMART goal
Exercise

26. 5. SMART Goal
A goal is a broad statement of the overall outcome(s) that the proposed plan is expected to achieve. (WHO, 2011) A goal is a view of the end result of the project or anticipated outcome/purpose. Goals are conceptual and abstract. Generally, each project should have only one goal. (Sinclair Community College, 2003)

27. 5. SMART Goal A project goal can be obtained from the objective tree.
A goal is the objective that is the “ends” level.
There can be a lot of goals at the “ends” level of the objective tree, the project team should choose one or several among them.
If more than one goals are chosen, they will be reformulated into a new goal.

28. Objective: Goal/Overall Objective Objective: Purpose/Outcome
5. SMART Goal
Objective Tree
Objective
Objective
Objective
Objective: Goal/Overall Objective
Ends
Objective: Purpose/Outcome
Means
Objective
Objective
Tree Image source: Clipartpenda

29. 5. SMART Goal Some examples of project goal are:
To reduce infant and maternal mortality rates.
To improve public health services.
To reduce traffic road accidents.
To improve quality of general education.
To strengthen food security in rural communities.
To promote gender equality and empower women.

30. 5. SMART Goal S
Specific: identifies concrete events or actions that will take place M
Measurable: quantifies the amount of resources, activity, or change to be expended and achieved A
Appropriate or Attainable or Achievable: logically relates to the overall problem statement and desired effects of the program R
Realistic or Relevant: provides a realistic dimension that can be achieved with available resources and plans for implementation T
Time-based or Time-bound: specifies expected time to be achieved

31. Goals To assist countries in reducing effects of soil erosion.
5. SMART Goal
Goals To assist countries in reducing effects of soil erosion.
SMART Goals To assist all sixteen counties in reducing the effects of soil erosion from agricultural, forest and urban lands by 2018.

32. 5. SMART Goal
Goals To develop institutional capacity for organizations in the Lower Mekong Sub- region.
SMART Goals To develop institutional capacity for at least 30 civil society organizations in the Lower Mekong Sub-region by 2020.

33. 5. SMART Goal
Goals Mobile network operator will provide access to essential information to low or middle- income country.
SMART Goals By 2017 at least one mobile network operator or mobile handset manufacturer, in at least one low- or middle- income country, will provide access to essential health information for direct use by citizens and free of any charges.

34. Goals To improve health services in Thailand.
5. SMART Goal
Goals To improve health services in Thailand.
SMART Goals To improve maternal, neonatal and child health services in Northern part of Thailand by 2018.

35. 5. SMART Goal
Goals To increase access to education and employment opportunities for young people in rural communities.
SMART Goals To increase access to education and employment opportunities for young people aged years in five rural communities in Khon Kaen by 2020.

36. Learning Objective
Analysis of Project Strategy
Criteria for Choosing a Project Strategy
Examples of Project Strategy Selection
SMART goal
Exercise

37. 6. Exercise Work in Pair Exercise #1: Project Strategy and Goal
What is the name of a project you are working on?
What is the project goal?
What factors were taking into consideration when choosing strategy for this project?

38. References
Artto, K., Kujala, J., Dietrich, P., & Martinsuo, M. (2008). What is Project Strategy? International Journal of Project Management(26), 4-12.
EC. (2004). Aid Delivery Methods: Project Cycle Management Guidelines. European Commission.
EURIDA. (2014). The Logical Framework Approach – an Introduction. EURIDA.
ITAD. (1999). Project Cycle Management Training Handbook. Information Training and Agricultural Development.
Sinclair Community College. (2003). Creating Goals, Objectives and Activities.
WHO. (2011). District Planning Tool for Maternal and Newborn Health Strategy Implementation: a Practical Tool for Strengthening Health Management System. World Health Organization.