The transitioning of veterans, specifically as mature workers, from the "military world" to the "civilian world," and by extension, the civilian workforce is the ultimate career transition. Despite their motivation and resilience, veterans still encounter a multiplicity of challenges when transitioning to the civilian…

The changing meaning of work calls for care and concern for the spiritual dimension of the workplace. Toward this end, a more liberal form of workforce education and human resource development in response to workplace preparation for managers is needed.

Research demonstrates that white privilege and racism have a direct impact on the success of businesses and the economy (Updegrave, Byrd, and Leuchter, 1989). Furthermore, organizations that are effective in integrating diversity experience increased organizational viability and profitability. Employees' intentions and actions of engaging in the…

This chapter addresses the complexity of providing workplace ESL by identifying patterns of "best practices" in the related fields of human resource management, adult education, and training and development, all of which have a stake in workplace ESL and the integration of immigrant workers.

Organizational life evokes joy, hate, anger, despair, curiosity, and esteem, yet as far as management is concerned, emotions are disruptive, dysfunctional, and derailing. In spite of managerial reluctance to embrace the emotional self as a relevant aspect of the worker, emotion makes everyone human, and organizations weigh on workers' emotional…

Refutes arguments against professional certification for human resource development, such as lack of common knowledge base, restriction of labor supply, and administrative/regulatory issues. Presents positive implications of certification for individuals, organizations, and the field. (SK)

Human and material resources external and internal to adult education programs must be cultivated for program development. Methods include developing support of decision makers, being entrepreneurial, and demonstrating accountability. Issues include the need for flexible, responsive staff and structure, clearly defined policy, and flexible service…

Traces the development of adult education and human resource development, as well as the burgeoning of workplace learning. Raises issues related to nomenclature, knowledge base, professionalization, and the learning organization. (SK)

Describes opportunities and concerns involved in four human-resource development initiatives for enhancing women's career development: mentoring, training, career planning, and informal learning. (SK)

Human resource development (HRD) is an evolving system, a confluence of disciplines with its own professional identity. Understanding HRD as an evolving system enables professional practice and theory development to emerge within the context of existing taxonomies. (SK)

Without a solid theory and research base, human resource development will never become a valid field of study and a profession. The rise in academic programs with graduates trained in research may improve the situation. (SK)

A reflective practitioner is a problem solver who develops theories anchored in a practitioner's ways of knowing. Reflective practice is a significant means of contributing to the knowledge base of adult education and human resource development. (SK)

The purpose of human resource development (HRD) should be to improve individual performance so that it contributes directly to organizational performance goals. Performance-focused HRD has no room for blind application of interventions or poorly conceived programs. (SK)

A holistic approach to individual development within the context of a learning organization produces well-informed, knowledgeable, critically-thinking adults whose decisions contribute to organizational prosperity. From a systems perspective, valuing development only if it contributes to productivity is counterintuitive. (SK)

Human resource development has been framed within a market model with economic aims and purposes. Reconceptualizing it as a form of adult education, which has a democratic and social justice tradition, can better serve an emerging participatory, democratic workplace. (SK)