The genesis of the Indian School of Development Management (ISDM) can be traced back to the visionary journey of its founders. Recognizing the systemic challenges faced by social purpose organizations (SPOs) to sustain and scale their impact, they embarked on a mission to bridge the need for leadership and management talent in the sector talent. The aim was to develop the theory and practice of management in the social sector, with all its complexities, nuances, and challenges, to unlock the full potential of SPOs to create a much greater and sustained impact.
Management is the scaffolding that allows individuals and organizations to operate and achieve results at scale. The Social Sector has never had the benefit of dedicated development of the theory and practice of professional management, unlike, say, Business Management for the world of business and Public Administration for the State.
Recognizing the power of management practice as the foundation for building and managing organizations at a huge scale, ISDM seeks to address the lack of dedicated theory and practice in Development Management, ISDM aims to catalyze and build a cadre of professional leaders and managers who will strengthen the sector, build its credibility, significantly and sustainably increase the impact of the sector. ISDM is on a journey to establish the new domain of Development Management and potentially achieving a multiplier effect on the large sums of public and philanthropic money that are spent annually on development.
ISDM was established in 2016 by a group of experienced professionals from diverse backgrounds in development and business who were burning to address this critical need. They established Development Management as distinctly different from business management or public administration to enable social purpose organisations to have impact at scale.
The founding of ISDM was not a solitary endeavor. The founders engaged in conversations with over a thousand senior leaders associated with the social sector and numerous institutions that have worked on related areas across continents. Through this process, the founding team was able to leverage collective wisdom from diverse audiences to shape the vision and mission of the institution and, in turn, the positive systemic impact the institute can have on society and the planet for generations to come.
The vision of ISDM garnered remarkable support from the social sector, academics, and philanthropists, who recognized the urgency of developing a platform to equip changemakers with the necessary skills. This support transformed ISDM into a national movement, attracting students, individuals, and organizations from all corners of the country. Today, ISDM stands as a testament to the power of collective action and collaboration. The institute is committed to catalyzing the ecosystem for Development Management in India.
ISDM aspires to build an iconic institution that not only serves as a role model but also fires the imagination of the country, creating a world-leading hub for Development Management and shaping the future of social impact on a global scale.
ISDM’s flagship Post Graduate Program in Development Management (PGP DM) has successfully graduated 6 batches since 2017.
ISDM takes pride in our world-class faculty members and visiting guest speakers from renowned global institutions as well as sectoral leaders.
ISDM has published multiple research studies and papers on Development Management.
ISDM has launched its nation-building programs for key stakeholders such as leaders of SPOs, women leaders, bureaucrats and young philanthropists. We recently launched the Women on Boards program.
ISDM is developing an enhanced knowledge infrastructure on Talent Management practices. This includes a public database of benchmarked compensation structures and good practices on talent management across 14 different archetypes of social purpose organisations in the Indian Social Impact sector.