The business of training and performance improvement has always been cyclical, with the fortunes of human resource development (HRD) and performance improvement professionals rising and falling with the economic fortunes of the workplace. The current economic downturn and nascent recovery represent an opportunity for HRD and performance…

Discussion of information technology and competitive advantages in organizations focuses on the scope of knowledge management, its goals, components, and outcomes. Highlights include the relationship between effective identification and use of existing knowledge; the creation and re-use of new knowledge; and the ability of an organization to…

The nature of project management is change. Even though all knowledge areas in the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) are rooted in controlling change, none of these areas specifically addresses the human elements of change. There is a significant distinction between directly controlling change relative to the nonhuman aspects of a…

Defines appreciative inquiry as a change model that uses traditional organizational development processes (team building, strategic planning, business process redesign, management audits) in a new way, both as a philosophy and as a process. Emphasizes collaboration, participation of all voices, and changing the organization rather than the people.…

Discusses the need for performance improvement consultants to demonstrate the effectiveness of work the field performs. Presents suggested guidelines related to responsibility and consequence, planning and results, using scientific literature, needs assessment, and resistance to change. Concludes with likely disclaimers that should be faced. (AEF)

Suggests that human resources development professionals need to change their performance improvement focus and philosophy to embrace the importance of building on strengths and managing weaknesses. Identifies five characteristics indicative of employees' strengths. Describes seven strategies to help employees minimize their weaknesses while…

Discusses how organizations are gaining a competitive edge in a global business environment through learning and highlights a learning organization implementation case study of a division of Ford Motor Company. Examines the strategic initiative; performance improvement results; individual learning, including interpersonal development and…

Presents an evaluation/development method for achieving customer-driven improvement in organizations. Describes the steps to external and internal "mirror analysis," a process for determining if the organization functions as a mirror of customers' needs and expectations. Twelve figures illustrate factors in the process. (AEF)

Examines three factors contributing to organizational success: use of a systemic model to design and guide the change effort; analysis of interdependencies within the system and of the change potential; and use of communication methods to help ensure that the change will be supported. Presents characteristics of successful change efforts with…

The systematic four-step process introduced in this article lays the basic groundwork in helping an organization link all its programs and initiatives to its strategic goals. Discusses the definition and purpose of performance measurement; elements of a global performance system; and building a global performance measurement system. (AEF)

Presents a process for crafting an employee mission statement (EMS) that employees take part in outlining. The EMS should be perceived as the final outcome of three basic steps: identification of performance areas, development of a matrix of behaviors, and translation of the matrix into an EMS. Each of these areas is driven by two key principles:…

Discusses how to improve an organization's training and communications system, both philosophically and technically, and highlights activities conducive to a rewired communication system. Lists online sources on the topic and freeware packages that can be downloaded, and includes job aid forms designed to be copied and posted in the organization.…