Icitrap—an experiential training exercise for examining participatory approaches to project management

Abstract

Icitrap is a flexible workshop‐based training exercise that has been developed to examine and evaluate participatory approaches in project management. This article outlines the background and rationale for the commissioning of the Icitrap exercise and then describes the development and testing methodology used. The experiential nature of the exercise is the key to the fulfilment of its stated aim, which is to foster an understanding of participatory approaches towards project management by drawing out common problems, principles and points for action. Details of the finalized experiential training package, available in text‐based and electronic formats, are presented. The early project process is dominated by engineers and economists, and preoccupations with infrastructure, budgets, schedules and quantification. The way professionals and organisations think and operate biases the process against poor people. A new professionalism and a new paradigm start with people rather than things, and adaptive processes rather than with blueprints (Chambers, 1993). We will encourage participatory approaches which take into account the views and needs of the poor, and which tackle disparities between women and men throughout society (Department for International Development, 1997). Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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