Development Management

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The Development Management Study Group of the UK Development Studies Association (DSA) brings together both practical and academic interests in the organization and management of development.
 
The group aims to gather geographically dispersed, multi- methodological and multi-disciplinary research and policy interests with a view to extending the boundaries of theoretical and empirical study.
 
While research will necessarily throw up uncomfortable answers to difficult questions, we seek to use our work pragmatically to generate both critical reflection and informed action. Our aim is thus to raise awareness of the possibilities and limitations of development management and, in the process, create an active community of practitioners and researchers.

Please consult our website for details on upcoming events, listserv, conference publications, etc.

Development Studies Association & European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes Conference 2011
 
Theme: “Development Ends and Management Means: Can They be in Harmony?”
 
Date: September 12-22, 2011, York,UK
 
These panels invited papers on the relationship between development ends and the management means that national and international government and non-government development organizations use to achieve them.  Is it possible to have an emancipatory management of development processes which is in harmony with social objectives, – whether at national or international level, or in the public and private sectors and in civil society – or is that a luxury that development agencies cannot afford?
 
Participants: Hazel Johnson, Willy McCourt

Academy of Management Panel Showcase Symposium 2011
 
Theme: “Bottom of the Pyramid: A Critical/Constructive Exploration”
 
Co-sponsored by: Critical Management Studies, Social Issues in Management
 
Date: August 15, 2011 , San Antonio, USA
 
The debate on companies working at the Bottom of the Pyramid (BoP) has reached a key juncture within the management academy. Despite enthusiastic advocacy by prominent management scholars and endorsement by large multinationals, BoP has failed to deliver its promise of a market-driven solution to poverty. The question is, where next? Should the BoP concept be abandoned or can BoP be reformed so business can play a positive role in international development? The showcase symposium will bring together scholars from three continents to discuss the Bottom of the Pyramid concept from a critical but constructive perspective.
 
Participants:  George Cairns, Bill Cooke, Nilima Gulrajani, Aneel Karnani, Kamal Munir, Jonathan Murphy

Academy of Management Showcase Symposium 2010

Theme: “The Future of Development Management”

Date: Tuesday, August 10, 2010

The application of management expertise in international development is an expression of the ‘passion and compassion’ which are the theme of this year’s AOM conference. This showcase symposium acted as a forum to take stock of development management’s achievements, and to assess ways forward. The symposium was nominated for an Emerald Award, an award given to the symposium that best meets the objective of internationalizing the Academy.

Co-sponsored by: Public Non-Profit Section, Social Issues in Management Section, Critical Management Studies Section

Participants: Matt Andrews, Bill Cooke, Nilima Gulrajani, Willy McCourt, Chris Mowles, Jonathan Murphy, Greg Reid, Mark Turner

Development Studies Association Conference 2010

Theme: ”Values, Ethics and Morality”

Date: November 5, 2010 Church House, London

This panel invited papers on the morality of the poverty reduction principle in development management; particularly papers which linked theory & practice. The purpose was to extend the ongoing debate on morality and development management in the study group and to open up new debates.

Participants: Mike Hubbard,

Development Studies Association Conference 2009

Theme: “The Future of Development Management”

Date: September 2-4, 2009, Coleraine, Northern Ireland

What has development management achieved and what are its prospects? Development-related programmes and activities under the rubrics of capacity development, institution building and public management reform remain both significant and contested. Recent discussions have called for greater study of development management’s potential contribution to global problems like poverty and inequality, climate change, ill-health and terrorism. This panel provided evidence of continuing interest in the scope, possibilities and limitations of development management.

Participants: Caroline Brassard, James Copestake, Teresita Cruz‐del Rosario, Ming Dong Paul Lee, Nilima Gulrajani, Jenny Knowles Morrison, Willy McCourt, Khuong Minh Vu, Jonathan Murphy, Gabriel Ferrero de Loma-Osorio, Kishore Raga, Raymond Saner, Derek Taylor, Helen Tilley, Lichia Yiu