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Paper short abstract:

Development professionals in a cross-border organisation sensemake autonomy amid global-local tensions. Power, position, culture, age and gender affect shape autonomy and knowledge sharing. Rigid (western) control hinders collaboration, advocating a holistic, decolonized approach for future studies.

Paper long abstract:

This paper examines how professionals in a cross-border development organization navigate the interplay of autonomy and control, emphasizing the influence of culture, power, and positionality on sensemaking. Using a social constructivist approach with interviews, surveys, and field observations in Ghana and the Netherlands, the study reveals that age and gender also shape perceptions of autonomy and challenges traditional Western-centric dichotomies.

Findings show that strong western oriented managerial control may suppress local knowledge development and global knowledge sharing, suggesting a need for more holistic, inclusive frameworks. Decolonizing management concepts and knowledge production emerge as crucial: rather than imposing top-down directives, fostering trust, belonging and dialogue can enable diverse stakeholders to co-create solutions that reflect local realities. This highlights a shift away from static autonomy-control paradigms toward an approach that values different viewpoints through participatory research and practice.

By integrating mixed methods—combining qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys—researchers capture the nuanced ways professionals make sense of their roles in global settings. Such participatory and appreciative techniques empower local voices and help balance global objectives with regional priorities. The resulting insights align with the broader #ShiftThePower movement, advocating a reconfiguration of power dynamics in development.

In looking toward the future of development studies, this paper underscores the importance of decolonizing science and embracing more holistic perspectives. Moving beyond rigid polarities can foster innovation, mutual learning, and genuinely collaborative relationships, ultimately shaping a more equitable and context-responsive field of international development.