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Practice, power and meaning: frameworks for studying organisational culture in multi-agency rural development projects

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Listed:
  • Lewis, David
  • Bebbington, Anthony J.
  • Batterbury, Simon
  • Shah, Alpa
  • Olson, Elizabeth
  • Siddiqi, M. Shameem
  • Duvall, Sandra

Abstract

Culture has received increasing attention in critical development studies, though the notion that there are important cultural differences within and between development organisations has received less consideration. This paper elaborates elements of a framework for studying organizational culture in multi-agency development projects. It draws on selected writings in anthropology and in organizational theory and suggests that these two bodies of literature can be usefully brought together, as well as on insights from ongoing fieldwork in Bangladesh, Burkina Faso and Peru. At the centre of this framework is the analysis of context, practice and power. Where development projects involve multiple organizations (such as donors, government agencies, non-governmental organizations and grassroots groups) an analysis of cultures both within and between organizational actors can help explain important aspects of project performance. The paper argues that organizational culture is constantly being produced within projects, sometimes tending towards integration, often towards fragmentation. This fragmentation, indicative of the range of cultures within development organizations, is an important reason why some projects fail, and why ideas stated in project documents are often not realized, especially in the case of the newer and more contentious objectives such as 'empowerment'.

Suggested Citation

  • Lewis, David & Bebbington, Anthony J. & Batterbury, Simon & Shah, Alpa & Olson, Elizabeth & Siddiqi, M. Shameem & Duvall, Sandra, 2002. "Practice, power and meaning: frameworks for studying organisational culture in multi-agency rural development projects," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 29217, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:29217
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mick Moore, 2001. "Empowerment at last?," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 13(3), pages 321-329.
    2. Simon Batterbury, 1998. "Local environmental management, land degradation and the 'gestion des terroirs' approach in West Africa: policies and pitfalls," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 10(7), pages 871-898.
    3. Maxwell, Simon, 1997. "Implementing the World Food Summit Plan of Action: organisational issues in multi-sectoral planning," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 22(6), pages 515-531, December.
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • R14 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Land Use Patterns
    • J01 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics: General

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