Who or what is a development manager?

Abstract

Although ill-defined, the term “development management” is broadly understood to refer to the management of economic and social development, and the reduction of poverty, at various levels from macro to micro, in lower income countries. “Development management” pre-supposes “development managers”, but this term is even less well defined. Popular perceptions suggest that the concept is less easily applied at the macro level, but more readily at the micro, and also more to someone who is development-minded than someone whose job is to manage or implement development policies and processes, although the two can overlap. This perception – and its implications for management training – is followed through to suggest a profile of a development manager as someone who is forward-thinking, people-oriented, resourceful, flexible in his or her approach to means of achieving objectives, and morally committed.