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11.S943

Development, Planning, and Implementation: The Dialectic of Theory and Practice

Graduate · Historical course

Fall 2017

Topics

  • Introduction—The rationale for the course: Why is it important to understand the difference between conventional theories and actual outcomes?
  • Overview of conventional theories of development, planning, and implementation
  • Implemenation puzzle: One modernity or multiple modernities?
  • Implemenation puzzle: Assessment of development and planning efforts: What has worked and what has not?
  • Implemenation puzzle: Bottom-up versus top-down development?
  • Implemenation puzzle: Comprehensive versus incremental planning
  • Implementation puzzle: Under what conditions do public sector institutions perform well?
  • Implementation puzzle: Is politics a hindrance to, or essential for planning?
  • Implementation puzzle: How do development professionals define what is ethical practice?
  • Implementation puzzle: Rigidity versus flexibility
  • Implementation puzzle: Modes of evaluation: What is useful knowledge for practitioners?
  • Implementation puzzle: The social construction of learning institutions
  • Implementation puzzle: Surety of purpose or humility of not knowing the answer?

Readings

Sources