MANAGING FOR SUCCESS - LESSONS FROM ASIAN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

Based on a study of 11 successful development organizations in five Asian countries, this paper summarizes their key organization design and management practices, which together seem to suggest an agenda for successfully managing development programs. A major concern of management in these organizations was the operating performance of large number of beneficiary members and field staff, which determined program success. Many policies in these organizations were different from or contrary to popular recommendations made in earlier studies regarding participation of people, role of local leaders, autonomy of local organizations, and debureaucratization. The paper identifies some other key management concerns and aims to energize the debate and provide clarity regarding the management of development programs.