Critical Human Resource Development

This book provides a reflexive critique of the assumptions of orthodox HRD research and practice and questions the conception of humans as resources, as well as the conventional performative focus of HRD. Examining the broader social, political and economic contexts, the book offers alternative perspectives for considering both the needs of individuals and the sustainable development of organizations in post-industrial economies.

Focuses on organisational goals and those of other stakeholders and society at large. This book provides an insight into the potential benefits and pitfalls, expectations and concerns of advancing a critical view of HRD in practice. It is intended for lecturers, students and practitioners who are aching for a critical analysis.

Human resource management (HRM) is the predominant apparatus for people management across the world. Since its inception, HRM has nevertheless been subjected to critical scrutiny. This work has produced a corpus of literature now referred to as ‘Critical HRM’. This book on Critical HRM traces the development of the critical scholarly tradition in people management. It analyzes, organizes and synthesizes the various perspectives, ideas and arguments that constitute this critical tradition. The book identifies the current status and future trends of Critical HRM, and explores its ethico-political role in contemporary organizations, especially in the context of widespread public concern about making business more ethical. Incorporating under-researched and emerging issues of people management, such as the Global South and Critical HRM, with more established themes of Critical HRM, this book introduces Critical HRM’s critique of mainstream HRM and its underpinning assumptions. It illustrates how interventions have the potential to transform organizational policies and practices of managing people at work. The book will be of interest to professionals, researchers, and academics focusing on critical issues in people management across the Global South and North.

This handbook presents an expansive exploration of critical theory, critical perspectives, critical praxis, and the impact on the research, theory, and practice of Human Resource Development (HRD). Critical Human Resource Development (CHRD) aims to challenge the normative structures, practices, policies, definitions, and approaches which have historically dominated the field of Human Resource Development (HRD). As an approach to HRD, CHRD raises awareness of social systems, organizational policies and practices, and research paradigms that silence new ways of knowing and understanding, while advancing underrepresented and emerging approaches. Through an analysis of power and privilege, morality and ethics, and ideology and context, CHRD situates diversity, equity, inclusion, social justice, and resistance as a path forward in a rapidly-changing global society. In contrast to HRD’s traditional focus on organization development, training and development, and career development, this handbook adopts a more critical vantage point which classifies the scope and outcomes of HRD across five domains identified by CHRD scholars as key to understanding the nature and work of the field— organizing, relating, learning, changing, and advocating.

David McGuire′s student-friendly introduction looks at Human Resource Development on an individual, organisational and societal level analysing how HRD can play a major role in organisational innovation, in developing communities and society and in operating on a cross-national and international basis. Key features: Links key training design and learning theories to broader economic and societal issues for a more holistic and in-depth understanding of the field. Seven brand new chapters ensure a good fit with HRD programmes at all levels and reflect the latest developments in the field, including career development, strategic HRD, knowledge management, the environment, ethics and CSR and the future of HRD. High profile case studies in each chapter bring the theory to life including Apple, Massive Open Online Courses, Barclays, Stephen Lawrence, Lloyds Pharmacy, Marriott Hotels, Netflix, Black and Decker, Google, Colgate-Palmolive, Marks and Spencer and Valve. Case vignettes throughout the chapters highlight HRD in action and provoke critical analysis and discussion, including How a Beer Can Aided the Design of Canon’s Revolutionary Mini-Copier and The Alaskan Village Set to Disappear Under Water in a Decade. An Appendix contains advice on preparing for an HRD examination as well as example exam questions and sample answers, to ensure examination success. Chapters map to the CIPD’s requirements at levels 5 and 7 making it an ideal core text for accredited and non-accredited programmes alike.

Despite over three decades of debate around the nature of human resource management (HRM), its intellectual boundaries and its application in practice, the field continues to be dogged by a number of theoretical and practical limitations. Written by an international team of respected scholars, this updated textbook adopts a critical perspective to examine the core management function of HRM in all its complexity – including its darker sides. Human Resource Management: A Critical Approach opens with a critique of the very concept of HRM, tracing its development over time, and then systematically analyses the context of HRM, practice of HRM and international perspectives on HRM. New chapters commissioned for this second edition look at HRM and the issues of diversity, migration, global supply chains and economic crisis. This textbook is essential reading for advanced and inquisitive students of HRM, and for HRM professionals looking to deepen their understanding of the complexities of their field.

"The book will be of interest to student of human resource development, human resource management and organisation and management studies. It will also appeal to critically reflexive human resource practitioners seeking alternative ways to conceptualise their profession, and to interpret the challenges they are facing in today's organisations."--Jacket.