Introduction

What is the primary way we human beings communicate our needs, experiences, preferences, hopes, fears, problems and solutions?  It is through conversation — talking with each other. All of the modern technical marvels (email, tweets, blogs and all their kin) only facilitate that conversation. They do not replace it. 

In this blog post I will relate my own experiences in using “the conversation” as a development tool in field projects in several countries.  The importance of talking with the people we work with may seem obvious but I expect that we all have seen projects fail to achieve their objectives because a good conversation among all of the participants was not a key part of their planning and implementation.

Please read on and then join this particular conversation by adding a comment or relating something from your own experience in the box at the end.  It is not a conversation if I am the only one speaking. Don’t forget to use one of the several ways provided to subscribe to future postings on this site.  Your suggestion as to what might be included in those posting will always be welcome. Continue reading →