How Culture Influences Adaptive Management

There is some agreement that flexible and adaptive management, throughout the programme cycle and in the financial and operational management of implementation, is essential for programme effectiveness. Yet for a wide variety of reasons, most organisations have far to go to reach this adaptive ideal. This study provides a catalyst for an open discussion of the many challenges to adaptive management, points towards innovations in programme design and management that are useful, and provides examples of emerging good practices.

One of the most important findings is the influence of culture – organisational, office, and national – on the extent to which an organisation is successful in using adaptive management approaches. As a result, staffing issues, particularly the selection of chiefs of party and programme managers, were issues upon which respondents were very vocal.