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

Calendar

SES #	TOPICS	KEY DATES
1	Introduction—The rationale for the course: Why is it important to understand the difference between conventional theories and actual outcomes?
2	Overview of conventional theories of development, planning, and implementation	Implementation Puzzle due
3	One modernity or multiple modernities?
4	Assessment of development and planning efforts: What has worked and what has not?
5	Bottom-up versus top-down development
6	Comprehensive versus incremental planning	Mid-term due
7	Under what conditions do public sector institutions perform well?
8	Is politics a hindrance to, or essential for planning?
9	How do development professionals define what is ethical practice?
10	Rigidity versus flexibility
11	Modes of evaluation: What is useful knowledge for practitioners?
12	The social construction of learning institutions
13	Surety of purpose or humility of not knowing the answer?	Final Paper due