When theory meets reality: assumptions, feasibility and implications of a complexity-informed approach
Resource type
Author/contributor
- Buffardi, Anne (Author)
Title
When theory meets reality: assumptions, feasibility and implications of a complexity-informed approach
Abstract
Over the last half century, repeated calls for adaptive learning in development suggests two things: many practitioners are working in complex situations that may benefit from flexible approaches, and such approaches can be difficult to apply in practice.
• Complexity thinking can offer useful recommendations on how to take advantage of distributed capacities, joint interpretation of problems and learning through experimentation in complex development programmes.
• However, these recommendations rely on underlying assumptions about relationships, power and flexibility that may not hold true in practice, particularly for programmes operating in a risk averse, results-driven environment.
• This paper poses guiding questions to assess the fit and feasibility of integrating complexity informed practices into development programmes.
Institution
Methods Lab
Date
May 2016
Pages
16
Accessed
2018-11-10
Citation
Buffardi, A. (2016). When theory meets reality: assumptions, feasibility and implications of a complexity-informed approach (p. 16). Methods Lab. https://www.odi.org/sites/odi.org.uk/files/resource-documents/10604.pdf
Theme
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