Normal professionalism and the early project process: problems and solutions
Abstract
The early project process is dominated by engineers and
economists, and preoccupations with infrastructure, budgets,
schedules, and quantification. The way professionals and
organisations think and operate biases the process against
poor people. A new professionalism and a new paradigm start
with people rather than things, and adaptive processes
rather than blueprints. Practical implications for thls
approach include the need for calibre, commitment and
continuity in field staff, restraint in funding, use of
methods of rapid rural appraisal, and support for 'learning
projects' without deadlines or targets.