Understanding Human Resource Development

This edited volume contains original chapters by some of the leading researchers and writers in HRD. It provides a definitive work on the design and conduct of research in HRD and identifies and examines the possibilities and limitations of particular methods and techniques. Emerging debates on the purpose, nature and practice and theoretical base of HRD are examined. Each chapter is structured with: * Statement of aims * Description of theoretical and empirical context^ * Identification and examination of methodological issues * Description and evaluation of research design * Critical analysis and evaluation * Key learning points

The rapidly transforming environment that we live in has made human resource development (HRD) all the more necessary for the success of today’s organizations. HRD initiatives help their organizations by developing employees who assist their organizations in not only surviving, but thriving in our increasingly global world. Today’s best practice or benchmarked organizations and their HRD professionals continue to recognize the importance of employee learning, knowledge, skills and motivation to organizational success. This recognition increasingly opens many doors as organizational leaders accept the fact that HRD initiatives can be used to ensure that organization members have what it takes to successfully meet the demands that confront them and their organizations. This book takes the position that HRD can demonstrate how their initiatives help to develop a superior workforce so that the organization and its individual employees can accomplish their strategic and operational goals in service to their clients or customers. This book is written with the belief that HRD professionals have many opportunities to learn, change and find ways both in and outside of the workplace to contribute to the development of learning organizations as we move further into the 21st century. A major point of this book is that HRD will continue to become more and more important to organizational success when one considers the increased responsibilities HRD professionals have taken on during and post- the COVID pandemic. The primary audience for this book is practicing HRM and HRD professionals, and other organizational leaders. The book provides proven ideas important to demonstrating the value of HRD. From a practical viewpoint, it is based on actual experience, a strong research base, and accepted practices presented in an easy to read form. A second target audience is students of HRD and HRM who are preparing for careers in this important field. This book will help them develop a solid foundation to the study of HRD practices or initiatives that are key to HRD success regardless of the type of organization. A third target audience is managers or leaders at all levels of an organization who are expected to take on a number of HRD responsibilities (e.g., as trainers, coaches, mentors, change agents, and so on) while regularly partnering with HRD professionals. It offers these individuals a firsthand look at what they should expect of their HRD functions or areas and how they can effectively work with HRD professionals in their organizations to achieve the organizations strategic goals by getting the most out of its human people.

Human Resource Development (HRD) involves the design, delivery and evaluation of learning and/or training interventions within organisations to improve the work performance of individuals and groups. This edited collection will demonstrate the potential of identity theorising for problematizing and reconceptualising HRD activities. Identity will thus be established as a foundation for enhancing HRD policy and practice. While identity has emerged as a key focus for theoretical debate and for empirical research within management and organisational studies, the potential of identity as a new paradigm for understanding learning and for examining HRD more broadly is still emergent. That identity has such potential can be seen in the increasing recognition that training and development for many contemporary occupations represents nothing less than a "project of the self". Identity as a Foundation for Human Resource Development will complete a gap in the market providing sound, single source, theoretical foundations from the latest trends in identity theorising, now a key area of organisation studies, and apply these to HRD policy and practice. The emphasis throughout will be on informing HRD policy and practice, research and education the book includes a chapter on resources and techniques for HRD educators. In short, the book will "put identity to work" for HRD scholars. The intended audiences are Human Resource Development scholars, academics, students and professionals, this exciting new volume will provide a thoughtful theoretical analysis and operational practise for modern HRD.

* An accessible introduction to the key debates in human resource management * A fresh critique of taken-for-granted assumptions underpinning HRM * A pointer to future directions in HRM Ken Kamoche critically examines contemporary issues in the management of people. He reviews some of the significant themes that have shaped HRM as it has emerged during the course of the last century. The book identifies the definitive role of the tension between the drive for organizational performance and the 'humanization' of work. It argues, however, that our understanding of both strands is inadequate and poorly researched, leading to an incomplete picture of the dynamics of managing people. Understanding Human Resource Management also examines the relevance of such contemporary debates as the resource-based view, appropriation and globalization, and explores how researchers and practitioners can now move towards a more viable conception of HRM. '...excellent coverage of the essential areas in human resource management today: contemporary human resource management, strategic HRM, and international HRM...a very readable and concise treatment...it is easy to highly recommend this book.' Professor Randall S. Schuler, Rutgers University 'At last a genuinely original new book on HRM that deals with the concerns of the 21st rather than the last century. Ken Kamoche unpacks some fascinating ideas about appropriation, the "community concept" and facilitating resourcefulness. He is to be congratulated on a real tour de force. A book not to be missed by anyone taking a critical perspective on HRM.' Professor Karen Legge, University of Warwick

Human Resources and their Development is a component of Encyclopedia of Human Resources Policy, Development and Management in the global Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS), which is an integrated compendium of twenty one Encyclopedias. The Theme on Human Resources and their Development provides the essential aspects and a myriad of issues of great relevance to our world such as: Human Resources and their Development; Major Issues in Human Resource Development; Elements of Planning Strategies for Human Resource Development; Human Life Systems, Diversity and Human Development; Human Development and Causes of Global Change; Consequences of Global Change for Human Resource Development. These two volumes are aimed at the following five major target audiences: University and College Students, Educators, Professional Practitioners, Research Personnel and Policy Analysts, Managers, and Decision Makers and NGOs.

In today's corporate world, employee management is first and the foremost concern of any organization. An organization can easily churn out the best out of their employees by improvising the strategic development within the human resource norms. This book comprehensively discusses the strategic management functions that are designed to meet the business objectives effectively. This textbook explains the concepts of human resource management (HRM) and human resource development (HRD), and shows how they supplement and complement each other. The book explicates how sourcing, retention, development, compensation and performance are driven by the strategic business needs in an organization. Divided into four parts, the book explicates strategic developmental aspects of the people (training and development) vis-á-vis organizational behaviour, culture and leadership as well as primacy of technology in training as well as the concepts of human resource management and human resource development. The special feature of this book is a chapter on Competency Mapping, which is a tool to identify accurate skills for developing competency requirement within the employees.

The history of human resource development embraces humankind's investment in one another's skills, knowledge, and abilities. As the field transitions into a more mature discipline, there is a need to understand the philosophies upon which certain theories and methodologies are based. Providing a historical narrative of HRD from the beginning of human history through modern times, this book reveals the consistent interaction between the philosophies of the time, theories, and methods of people management and how these philosophies impact what is known as HRD today. Drs. Gosney and Hughes offer a robust examination of HRD and provide a methodology for critical thinking to better understand the theories and assumptions of the field. They provide a model whereby scholars and practitioners can better understand and evaluate modern HRD through the context of HRD history.

Each chapter in Human Resource Development provides the reader with commentary, activities and review sections in an integrated approach. The action-oriented approach is vital for practicing managers but increasingly for postgraduate and final year undergraduates who have work experience. It is this aspect of the book that fills a gap that currently exists in the market. This text reflects organizational realities and balances and integrates the coverage of individuals, teams and organizational learning.The book is written in a straightforward manner and explains concepts and key issues in a lucid style. The activities are focused and are better suited to encouraging readers to learn.