2.13 Methodology

Summary: Provides an overview of the methodology involved in effective project planning, encompassing analysis, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation, and the selection of appropriate approaches based on project context and goals.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the methodology involved in effective project planning, including analysis, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
2. Learn about different approaches and techniques used in project planning and management.
3. Recognize the importance of selecting appropriate methodologies based on project goals, context, and stakeholders' needs.

You may need to specify the methods you will use while implementing your project in the project proposal form. The methods you will use may differ according to the activities you will apply. As a matter of fact, your project methodology covers the methods and techniques you will follow while performing the activities. You can refer to issues such as inclusion, participatory management, environmental and climate change mentioned in the sustainability section, which are mentioned in horizontal topics, in the method section.

Apart from these, you can specify some of the methods you can use while performing your activities as follows:

Needs analysis: It is expected that you have prepared your project proposal based on the needs of the target audience. As a matter of fact, you need to create the framework of your project by performing your problem, target and strategy analyzes within this framework. However, you may need to conduct an objective needs analysis to determine the specific and detailed needs of your target audience. For example, within the framework of your project, you determined that your target audience had a training need and you designed your activities accordingly. However, the impact of a general education method on your target audience will be limited. Considering the needs of your target audience, a tailor-made training program that you will prepare for them will have more impact and permanence (Long, 2005).

Surveys: Surveys are one of the most objective and effective ways to obtain and analyze feedback from your target audience and those involved in your activities. You can include survey studies in your project in order to analyze needs, improve your activities and provide better service.

Focus meetings: You can hold focus meetings as an alternative or complementary to the feedback you get from surveys. While specific questions are included in surveys, you can get new ideas, structured/unstructured feedback and results in focus meetings. You can hold focus meetings with your target audience or with different people and communities to improve your activities.

Maximum use of internet, social media and technology: In recent years, parallel to technological developments, education, production, management etc. and other sectors are in rapid change and transformation. On the other hand, employees and/or those in the target group may not be able to adapt to these changes quickly and may contribute to the development of new methods in a limited way. For this reason, it is important to include technology, internet and social media in the activities of the project and to encourage the participants to use these new tools. On the other hand, the use of social media has increased considerably today. You can actively use social media in your project for the purpose of reaching your target audience and for visibility, promotion and dissemination.