Development is a process that brings in growth, progress and change. It includes economic growth and bringing in social changes like education and health care. It also means eradicating poverty, hunger and disease and providing safe shelter for people.
Development can be done at different levels like for a country, region or local community. It is also done on a global scale through intergovernmental organizations like the United Nations or the World Bank. These organizations raise funds through financial markets and provide low-interest loans to developing countries. Development is also done by non-governmental organizations (NGOs), universities, businesses, and other private individuals.
A key aspect of development is promoting skills that benefit your professional life, whether technical or interpersonal. Taking advantage of opportunities for self-improvement will make you a more productive and empathetic team player.
You can also use your development to become more valuable to your company or industry. For example, if you’ve learned new software or tools, sharing that information with your colleagues will not only help them develop, but it’ll improve the service you provide to customers.
Some scholars think that the process of development is linear and follows a set path, such as behaviorists or Vygotsky. Others, such as Amartya Sen, have a more complex view of development that encompasses freedom to act. This “capability approach” is a central concept in the Human Development Index. It takes into account a country’s life expectancy, literacy rate and standard of living.