DEVELOPMENT
CONCEPT AND DEFINITIONS
“Development is a process of a qualitative change and qualitative growth
of social and economic reality” – JOHN DREWENSKY
Hurlock(1959) defines, “Development means a progressive series of
changes that occur in an orderly, predictable pattern as a result of
maturation and experience.”
J.E. Anderson (1950) defines, “Development is concerned with growth
as well as those changes in behavior which result from environmental
situations.”
Development refers to the progress and positive transformation of
societies, economies, and individuals towards achieving higher standards
of living, well-being, and social welfare.
The concept of development extends beyond mere economic growth to
encompass broader improvements in human capabilities, living
standards, and opportunities.
It is a complex process that involves structural changes, technological
advancements, and improvements in various indicators of human
development.
CONCEPT:
Development is a qualitative and quantitative assessment taking place
on any part of the earth. This means that development is measured
Qualitative aspects of development focus on the quality of life or
progress in a specific region such as education, health, cultural
enrichment etc.
Quantitative aspects of development refer to measurable data or
statistics that can be used to gauge growth or progress in a region such
as GDP, per capita income, unemployment rates, or inflation,
Infrastructure development.
Development of one person/region may not be the development for the
other. This means that What constitutes progress or improvement for
one individual, community, or region may not be the same for another.
This is due to differences in needs, values, goals, resources, and
perspectives.
Example: For a person living in a wealthy urban area, access to high-speed
internet or modern healthcare might be considered development. However,
for someone in a rural or underdeveloped area, basic food security or
access to safe drinking water would be more urgent aspects of
development.
Development is a planned structural change.
This refers to the idea that development is not an accidental or random
process, but rather a deliberate and organized effort to bring about long-
term improvements. These improvements are typically in areas such as
economic structures, social systems, infrastructure, and governance. The
key concept here is planning—development involves the systematic,
intentional transformation of various aspects of society to improve
quality of life and achieve growth.
Development has the ultimate notion of enhancing the living and thus
overall welfare of human.
It emphasizes that the core goal of development is to improve the
quality of life and well-being of people. In other words, development
should lead to tangible benefits that positively affect individuals,
communities, and societies, enhancing their living conditions,
opportunities, and general welfare.