Development is a positive process that brings growth, progress and change to people. It can include economic growth or increase in people’s income, and social development referring to literacy, health and the provision of public services. Development can also refer to an individual’s mental, emotional and physical growth. The UN recognizes three main areas of development: eradicating poverty, hunger and disease, developing human resources and improving the quality of life in the world.
The scientific study of development is known as developmental science, and it looks at the ways that humans grow, change and remain the same throughout their lives. It also examines the relationships that develop between people.
Theories of development are based on the assumptions that researchers make about the way in which humans develop. Some theories assume that human development is a continuous process, while others see it as a series of discontinuous stages. For example, Erikson’s theory of human development assumes that each stage is triggered by a specific crisis, such as finding one’s place in the world and forming healthy adult relationships.
When used in business, development often refers to employee training and education. This type of developmental program helps employees become more skilled and knowledgeable in their job, which results in higher performance levels for the company. Often, employee development takes place in team environments, which builds bonds between colleagues and leads to better communication and collaboration. This type of developmental environment is beneficial for the business, as it provides a way to show employees that their company cares about them and their career growth.
