{Excerpt} The designand monitoring framework is a logic model for objectives oriented planning that structures the main elements in a project, highlighting linkages between intended inputs, planned activities, and expected results.
Logic models (results frameworks) neither guarantee a good project (or program) design nor replace other instruments of project management. But they help to analyze problems; identify desired outcomes; establish a logical hierarchy of means by which the desired outcomes will be reached; identify clusters of outputs; determine how accomplishments might be monitored and evaluated, and planned and actual results compared; flag the assumptions on which a project is based and the associated risks; summarize a project in a standard format; build consensus with stakeholders; and create ownership of the project

Serrat, Olivier

English

{Excerpt} The designand monitoring framework is a logic model for objectives oriented planning that structures the main elements in a project, highlighting linkages between intended inputs, planned activities, and expected results. Logic models (results frameworks) neither guarantee a good project (or program) design nor replace other instruments of project management. But they help to analyze problems; identify desired outcomes; establish a logical hierarchy of means by which the desired outcomes will be reached; identify clusters of outputs; determine how accomplishments might be monitored and evaluated, and planned and actual results compared; flag the assumptions on which a project is based and the associated risks; summarize a project in a standard format; build consensus with stakeholders; and create ownership of the project.Output_Accomplishment_and_the_Design_and_Monitoring_Framework.pdf: 451 downloads, before Oct. 1, 2020

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Output Accomplishment and the Design and Monitoring Framework

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International Publications Key Workplace Documents 
10-2008 
Output Accomplishment and the Design and Monitoring 
Framework 
Olivier Serrat 
Asian Development Bank 
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Output Accomplishment and the Design and Monitoring Framework 
Abstract 
{Excerpt} The designand monitoring framework is a logic model for objectives oriented planning that 
structures the main elements in a project, highlighting linkages between intended inputs, planned 
activities, and expected results. 
Logic models (results frameworks) neither guarantee a good project (or program) design nor replace 
other instruments of project management. But they help to analyze problems; identify desired outcomes; 
establish a logical hierarchy of means by which the desired outcomes will be reached; identify clusters of 
outputs; determine how accomplishments might be monitored and evaluated, and planned and actual 
results compared; flag the assumptions on which a project is based and the associated risks; summarize 
a project in a standard format; build consensus with stakeholders; and create ownership of the project. 
Keywords 
Asian Development Bank, ADB, poverty, economic growth, sustainability, development 
Comments 
Suggested Citation 
Serrat, O. (2010). Output accomplishment and the design and monitoring framework. Washington, DC: 
Asian Development Bank. 
Required Publisher's Statement 
This article was first published by the Asian Development Bank (www.adb.org) 
This article is available at DigitalCommons@ILR: https://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/intl/137 
Knowledge 
Solutions
October 2008 | 6
The design 
and monitoring 
framework is 
a logic model 
for objectives-
oriented planning 
that structures the 
main elements in a 
project, highlighting 
linkages between 
intended inputs, 
planned activities, and 
expected results.
Output Accomplishment 
and the Design and  
Monitoring Framework
by Olivier Serrat 
Logic models (results frameworks) neither guarantee a good 
project (or program) design nor replace other instruments of 
project management. But they help to analyze problems; iden-
tify desired outcomes; establish a logical hierarchy of means by 
which the desired outcomes will be reached; identify clusters 
of outputs; determine how accomplishments might be moni-
tored and evaluated, and planned and actual results compared; 
flag the assumptions on which a project is based and the asso-
ciated risks; summarize a project in a standard format; build 
consensus with stakeholders; and create ownership of the project. 
Table 1: The Design and Monitoring Framework
Design Summary Performance Targets 
and Indicators
Data Sources and 
Reporting Mechanisms
Assumptions  
and Risks
Impact: The broader 
impact of the project at 
a sectoral and national 
level
Measures of the extent 
to which the project has 
contributed to the impact
Sources of information 
and ways to gather and 
report it
Assumptions and risks 
at the impact level are 
beyond the control of the 
project but essential to 
attainment of the impact
Outcome: The expected 
outcome at the end of the 
project
Conditions at the end 
of the project indicating 
that its outcome has been 
achieved
Sources of information 
and ways to gather and 
report it
Assumptions and risks 
at the outcome level 
are those that relate to 
attainment of outcome 
targets
Outputs: The direct 
results of the project 
(works, goods, and 
services)
Measures of the quantity 
and quality of outputs 
and the timing of their 
delivery
Sources of information 
and ways to gather and 
report it
Assumptions and risks at 
the output level are those 
that are external and 
beyond the control of the 
project implementers but 
essential for successful 
attainment of the outputs
Activities with Milestones: The tasks executed to deliver the outputs identified Inputs: The various 
resource categories 
required to undertake 
the project should be 
identified
Source: Author.
Knowledge 
Solutions
2
They also support creative analysis. It is a rare project that unfolds exactly according to plan. During project 
implementation, one must pay close attention to the cause-and-effect relationships between inputs, activities 
with milestones, outputs, outcome, and impact. Repeatedly, one must make certain that inputs for activities 
are deployed successfully. Or one must adjust the means of attaining the outcome, including the definition 
of outputs, the mix of activities, and the indicators needed to measure accomplishment of the newly defined 
performance targets. Administration can become complex and it helps to have structure. Because of this, it is 
useful to deepen and extend typical logic models, for example, using the tool depicted below. (It lists only two 
targets per output). For each output, one can examine methodically whether targets are being achieved, how the 
activities are being implemented, and how activities might be improved. One can then itemize individual action 
plans, which should be monitored constantly.
Table 2: Analysis of Output Accomplishment and Improvement of Activities
Output No
Targets No
No
Is the output being accomplished? Yes Partially No
Are the targets being achieved?
No
No
How are the targets being implemented?
Strength
No
No
Weakness
No
No
How can the activities be improved?
Proposed Change
No
No
Justification
No
No
Action plan to improve the activities
Action
No
No
Target Date
No
No
Systematic analysis of output accomplishment leads to telling improvements in relevance, effectiveness, 
 efficiency, and sustainability, thereby achieving impact. It clarifies materially the chain of causality in a design 
and monitoring framework.
Further Reading
ADB. 2007. Guidelines for Preparing a Design and Monitoring Framework. Manila. Available: www.adb.org/
documents/guidelines/guidelines-preparing-dmf/guidelines-preparing-dmf.pdf
For further information
Contact Olivier Serrat, Head of the Knowledge Management Center, Regional and Sustainable Development Department, 
Asian Development Bank (oserrat@adb.org).
Source: Author.
Output Accomplishment and the Design and Monitoring Framework
3
Asian Development Bank 
ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in the 
Asia and Pacific region through inclusive economic growth, 
environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. 
Established in 1966, it is owned by 67 members—48 from the 
region. In 2007, it approved $10.1 billion of loans, $673 million of 
grant projects, and technical assistance amounting to $243 million. 
Knowledge Solutions are handy, quick reference guides to tools, 
methods, and approaches that propel development forward and 
enhance its effects. They are offered as resources to ADB staff. They 
may also appeal to the development community and people having 
interest in knowledge and learning.
The views expressed in this publication are those of the author 
and do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the 
Asian Development Bank (ADB) or its Board of Governors or the 
governments they represent. ADB encourages printing or copying 
information exclusively for personal and noncommercial use with 
proper acknowledgment of ADB. Users are restricted from reselling, 
redistributing, or creating derivative works for commercial purposes 
without the express, written consent of ADB.
Asian Development Bank
6 ADB Avenue, Mandaluyong City
1550 Metro Manila, Philippines
Tel +63 2 632 4444
Fax +63 2 636 2444
knowledge@adb.org 
www.adb.org/knowledgesolutions


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