Foreword

Effective urban management is needed all over the world, but scarcity of resources and a rapid rate of urban growth make this need most pressing in developing countries. Rapid change and the necessity of “doing more with less” require especially competent urban managers. To assist member countries in responding to this challenge, the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) has been offering, during the past decade, a variety of training programmes directed at closing the principal skill gaps and at promoting new approaches, methods and techniques.

Subjects covered by these programmes, usually implemented jointly with national training institutions and with assistance of agencies such as Economic Development Institute (EDI) of the World Bank or the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), can be divided into two main groups: (a) specific techniques and methods in areas such as urban local government revenue generation, budgeting, expenditure control or project preparation; and (b) general management and organizational development skills needed by urban managers. Strengthening of training in both areas is urgently needed, but the lack of training materials seems to be particularly pressing in the second - general management and organizational development for urban managers. This publication is an attempt to fill this gap.

The Guide to Managing Change for Managers and Trainers have been developed by Dr. Fred Fisher, Director, International Development Institute for Organization and Management (IDIOM), in collaboration with the training staff of the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat). Dr. Fisher has had many years of experience as a city manager, training executive, management adviser and university professor. The Guide has been tested during training courses in Africa and Asia directed by Dr. Fisher for UNCHS (Habitat) in collaboration with USAID and EDI.

Dr. Arcot Ramachandran
Under-Secretary-General
Executive Director
United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat)