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

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  • David Lewis

    (London School of Economics and Political Science, London UK)

  • Anthony J. Bebbington

    (Institute for Development Policy and Management, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK)

  • Simon P. J. Batterbury

    (University of Arizona, Tucson, USA)

  • Alpa Shah

    (London School of Economics and Political Science, London UK)

  • Elizabeth Olson

    (University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, USA)

  • M. Shameem Siddiqi

    (CARE, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Bangladesh)

  • Sandra Duvall

    (Consultant, Ougadougou, Burkina Faso)

Abstract

Culture has received increasing attention in critical development studies, though the notion that there are important cultural differences within and between development organizations 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'. © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Suggested Citation

  • David Lewis & Anthony J. Bebbington & Simon P. J. Batterbury & Alpa Shah & Elizabeth Olson & M. Shameem Siddiqi & Sandra Duvall, 2003. "Practice, power and meaning: frameworks for studying organizational culture in multi-agency rural development projects," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 15(5), pages 541-557.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:jintdv:v:15:y:2003:i:5:p:541-557
    DOI: 10.1002/jid.1004
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Grindle, Merilee S., 1997. "Divergent cultures? When public organizations perform well in developing countries," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 25(4), pages 481-495, January.
    2. Mick Moore, 2001. "Empowerment at last?," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 13(3), pages 321-329.
    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.
    4. Kanbur, Ravi, 2002. "IFI's and IPG's: Operational Implications for the World Bank," Working Papers 127298, Cornell University, Department of Applied Economics and Management.
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