Conventional human performance technology has had a good run. It allowed scientific and data-based research to be applied to improve performance, usually just individual performance. The field must be expanded without losing this individual performance focus to include a scope that measurably improves performance for individuals and organizations…

Since the 1980s there has been significant growth in the engagement of higher education with workforce development, with among other things the emergence of a distinct if varied area of provision commonly referred to as work-based learning. Recent examination of practice and literature indicates a growing sophistication in the way that work-based…

The interview with Edgar B. Speer, chairman and chief executive of the United States Steel Corporation, focuses on the company's training and development activities. The role of the training department in management development is discussed. (EC)

Competencies essential for organization development consultants, internal and external, have evolved over 20 years, based on literature and feedback from nearly 2,000 practitioners and academics. Further research is being conducted to determine what competencies are essential for internal and external organization development consultants today and…

This packet contains three papers from a symposium on assessing the learning organization. The first paper, "Relationship between Learning Organization Strategies and Performance Driver Outcomes" (Elwood F. Holton III, Sandra M. Kaiser), reports on a study of a new learning organization assessment instrument that was administered to 440…

Tips to trainers for influencing management to provide employee development programs are presented, with reference to the Fluor Corporation's People Resources Planning Center which the author developed. (MF)

A review of literature and work with focus groups shows that, although adult education has always focused on helping undereducated adults prepare for work, since the early 1990s there has been emphasis on work force development (helping prepare the work force and get them into rewarding productive jobs) and workplace (organizational) change. A…

This packet contains three papers from a symposium on the future of human resource development. The first paper, "Should We Define the Profession of HRD? Views of Leading Scholars" (Wendy E. A. Ruona), explores whether human resource development (HRD) should be defined and why, which was one theme that emerged from a qualitative study of beliefs…

This packet contains three papers from a symposium on organizational change. The first paper, "Kaizen Blitz: Rapid Learning to Facilitate Immediate Organizational Improvements" (Robert B. Gudgel, Fred C. Feitler), describes rapid and dramatic improvement in the organizational performance of a manufacturing firm after use of a series of…

Employee training and development (T&D) in business and industry, as a critical function of human resource development, must reflect a whole-health, proactive orientation in helping today's organizations survive in an increasingly competitive market. A proactive T&D orientation is based on humanistic views of work and education and is reflected in…

This document contains three papers from a symposium on human resource development (HRD) and performance outcomes. "Going to the Next Level of Growth: Employing Systems Thinking to Make Effective Interventions" (Carol Ann Zulauf, Joseph A. Ilacqua) shows how a systems view enables organizations to find the most effective point for…

This packet contains three papers from a symposium on developing employee competence. The first paper, "Coaching in Organizations: Self-Assessment of Competence" (Gary N. McLean, Min-Hsun [Christine] Kuo), reports on development and pilot-testing of an instrument to identify the developmental needs of managers and peers to function more…

This packet contains three papers on ethics and integrity from a symposium on human resource development (HRD). The first paper, "Factors Influencing Ethical Resolution Efficacy: A Model for HRD Practitioners" (Kimberly S. McDonald), proposes a model of ethical resolution efficacy for HRD practitioners. The model suggests that factors related to…

This packet contains four papers from a symposium on evaluation in human resource development (HRD). The first paper, "Context and Causation in the Evaluation of Training: Relating Economic and Learning Transfer Theory" (Kevin Hannigan, Paul Donovan, Elwood F. Holton III, Reid A. Bates, Sharon S. Naquin), links the following three…

The reform of schools and the modernization of workplaces are inextricably linked. Finding common ground begins with a realization that educators have a tripartite mission to teach students to be good neighbors, involved citizens, and qualified workers. Unless the reform of schools and reform of workplaces proceed at the same pace, a mismatch is…