3.7 Assumptions (vi)
The identification of a killer assumption often indicates the need for a rethink of the project purpose and outputs.
My example indicates one possible response by the Laggan Forest Initiative. Abandoning hand cutting would create less local employment in timber extraction, but this could be made up by diversifying the aims of forest management.
However, broadening the scope of our purposes in this way creates new challenges for the Laggan Forest Initiative. It will need to develop additional capacities and collaborate with a wider range of stakeholders.
Consider the assumptions at the 'outputs to goal' level; this is the last box you will need to fill in, since the top right-hand column of the logframe is usually left blank.
At this level you need to identify the external factors that could affect the ability of the project to contribute to wider development goals.
Assumptions at this level very often relate to the wider political and economic context. In some project situations, risks of economic instability, war and terrorism may need to be taken into account.
Activity 13
Can you identify two assumptions that are being made about the international and national context, in order for the project to contribute to the wider development goal of sustainable development in the community? When you have added your two assumptions to the boxes below compare them with mine.
Answer
Even if the project is successful in its own terms, its impact could be lessened if there were a serious downturn in the Scottish economy.
In formulating my second indicator, I considered that the future of the entire region is probably significantly dependent on international tourism to Scotland.
A downturn in international tourism could potentially affect the future of the region.
If you have time, you can enter these or other assumptions into the saveable logframe.