Author Archives: Dusty Columbia Embury
Columbia Embury www.wright.edu
Author Archives: Dusty Columbia Embury
Columbia Embury www.wright.edu
blog post by ANDREW SHEPHERD In response to the provocative question, here are some equally provocative answers. The short answer is that there is a big problem, at least in my field of agriculture. What do you think are the most important practices and competencies of a social change/development practitioner? The ability to ask questions and LEARN […]
Read More...Blog post by Alfredo Ortiz This post reflects the insights from Diederik’s earlier post. I share many of your concerns and feel that an even bigger problem is that many practitioners don’t figure these things out until after many years in the field. While I believe that some things can’t really be taught in advance of […]
Read More...Blog post by Diederik Prakke We will meet the impatience of ourselves and others, if we refuse to ignore inconvenient truth and refuse to over-promise. I write quite some tenders and I often struggle: How bluntly shall I say that (as usual) the project seems to make some (d)illusory assumptions as to how lasting change works? If I win by sweet talking, […]
Read More...Blog post by ALFREDO ORTIZ ARAGÓN The initial part of Diederik’s reflection brings up another dilemma. If we as practitioners believe in Theory Y—that people do know, are motivated and can solve complex issues (and other Theory Y principles)—then that might lead to a highly constructivist approach to change (actually spending time to work with people), that […]
Read More...Blog post by Diederik Prakke While “we OD practitioners” do lots of good, I agree that there are huge and fundamental flaws in most of our work. Symptoms like “checklist ticking” and “buzz killing” indeed express the problematic assumption that we are neutral observers and objective advisors. In reality our beliefs and attitudes not only influence […]
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