Building management systems on cultural traditions in developing countries : an African example

At best, such a management system will be adopted and then allowed to crumble when donor-advisors leave the scene. At worst, the effort will confront traditional cultural norms and produce resentment toward Americans who have tried to impose their own cultural traditions and values. The HEALTHCOM project aims to introduce more appropriate management systems to health ministries and collaborating organizations by building upon traditional systems and local values. This report describes a HEALTHCOM effort to reorganize the Health Education Division of Lesotho"s Ministry of Health. HEALTHCOM"s strategy involved individual meetings with all Division staff members, followed by group seminars with the Chief Health Educator. Discussions covered social values and decisionmaking processes in Basotho culture. The HEALTHCOM consultant then assisted the Health Education Division in adopting the traditional Basotho organizational structure as a model for the division.