An Operational Approach to Development Planning

Abstract

After gaining virtually worldwide acceptance, questions are being raised about the usefulness of planning in accelerating the rate of development. Part of the problem with conventional planning is methodologic and part of it is based on the inadequacy of data; but the greatest part of the problem is that conventional planning is based on wrong assumptions about the environment in which plans must be implemented. After discussing the shortcomings of conventional planning, the author proposes another approach involving “planning from the bottom up” which includes annual plans, improved budgets, and multi-annual sector programs. After testing the new approach in countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, the author concludes that this approach is more promising than the conventional one.