Critique of Current Issues in Development

ManagementBy Carolyne Dennis

Group MembersClotilda Ndezi Daudi EkuamJohn GachigiHarun Mutuma Nicolas NzivoJoshua M’Ikiao Angelo Geri

Definition of terms A project is a planned undertaking constituting of a set of

interrelated and coordinated activities designed to achieve certain specific objectives within a given budget and period of time.

Project Planning is setting goals, developing strategies and outlining tasks and schedules to accomplish the goals of a project.

Project management is act of planning, organizing and managing resources to bring about the successful completion of specific project goals and objectives.

Sustainability is the capacity of a project to continue to deliver the intended benefits over an extended period of time after the project ends. The goal is to ensure that benefits from the project continue to be realized after the project ends.

Major ArgumentsThe author presents 4 arguments Existence of paradigm Dynamics nature of paradigm Previous emphasis on economic

benefits of projects Need to focus on non economic

benefits

Existence of paradigm

Set of theories, concepts, methods and techniques which are generally accepted within a discipline or profession

Fashions have become up to date and contemporary

Managers operate in organizations which have priorities

When the dominant idea does not provide solutions

Dynamic nature of paradigm

The field of project planning and management is very volatile

It is flooded with numerous ideasThere is uncertainty on how to achieve the

objectivesShift in the general debate about economic

development

Previous emphasis on economic benefits of projects

Africa has suffered economic crisesPeople wanted a radical change for economicPoverty to be handled

Economic crisis and structural adjustmentHad negative impact on development projectsEconomic crisis influenced policy makingCritical problems over resourcesThe project manager and the staff suffered too.

Thus: Political, economic and social environment has greater influence on project planning and management.

Need to focus on Non Economic Benefits

The are 3 major non economic benefitsEnvironmental issues in project management

and the need to plan for the project beyond the completion of the project

Gender factors in projects and especially growing realization of the gender implication in project planning and management

Institutional capacity and their relationship in project management and especially local administrative structures

Emergence of SustainabilitySustaining of a given level of natural resourcesSustaining of the necessary institutional

capacity to ensure this while sustaining the level of benefits

Economic environment and government policy provide the enabling or limiting possibilities for projects

The long term viability of economic and non directly productive projects depend on non economic factors

The Role of Project Planner/ManagerNeed to understand the implication of the

paradigm that they are based up on; be able to examine them.

Take on board lessons learnt in the wider development environment and from experience of implementing projects.

Must understand various issues: economic, environmental, gender etc

Challenges to managersHow can the benefits be delivered to the

potential beneficiaries or clientsHow can the benefits of projects be sustained

beyond the life of projectsHow do we apply these new ideasHow comes we tend to quickly apply new

ideas and leave our own experiences

INTERELATIONSHIPSThe suggested interrelationship is as follows

Project Planning & Manageme

nt

Environmental Issues

Environmental Issues

SUSTAINABILITY

Gender

Issues

Gender

Issues

Institutional

Capacity

POST-PROJECT

BENEFITS

Critique of the Author The author has a limited perspective of gender as

she takes gender to mean women. She has ignored the role of youth and children in development

The author appears not well informed on the policy of environmental impact assessment despite the fact that there was a conference on environmental issues in 1978.

The author discusses project planning and management from a western perspective without giving it an African flavor as well as acknowledging the African indigenous knowledge

CONCLUSIONS

Plans are only good intentions unless they immediately degenerate into hard work

Peter F. Drucker