Project Framework

This project will compile 10-12 stories about constructive mistakes that address ideas and concerns relevant to the practice of community economic development.

Constructive mistakes occur in spite of thoughtful design and implementation. These failures somehow defy the best theories, past experience, and sound advice, in contrast to non-constructive failures that frequently result from a lack of comprehensive design and effort. Constructive mistakes call into question key design assumptions about problems, strategic interventions, implementation, partners, and even methods of documentation and evaluation. Most importantly, constructive mistakes provide invaluable insights into problems and solutions, and could lay the groundwork for the next generation of investments.

Many of our failures grow out of our inability to anticipate, learn, and adapt. These capacities involve understanding the dynamics of complex environments and trends, fully grasping the lessons embodied in experience, and changing course and redesigning interventions in real time. Building these capacities, however, requires flexible resources which are frequently the most difficult to obtain. 

Mistakes, Learning, and Adaptation - Round 1 Papers

Mistakes, Learning, and Adaptation - Round 2 Papers

Mistakes, Learning, and Adaptation - Abstracts

Example: Philanthropy and the Jobs Initiative.doc 

Call for Papers - Round 2.doc 

For additional information contact:

Colin Austin

Program Director

MDC, Inc.

P.O. Box 17268

Chapel Hill, NC 27516-7268

Tel. (919) 968-4531, ext. 321 

Fax (919) 929-8557

email: caustin@mdcinc.org

This research is funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. We thank them for their support but acknowledge that the findings and conclusions presented in this report are those of the author(s) alone, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Foundation.