Human Resource Development

Stephen Gibb

Effective individual learning is critical if employees are to acquire the knowledge and skill needed to support the organisation's business objectives and delivery targets. The delivery of effective people development practices requires a considerable increase in commitment and enhanced skills from all managers. A shift is taking place from training (an instructor-led, content-based intervention) to learning (a self-directed, work-based process), leading to increased adaptive capacity.

For these reasons, and many others, the well-rounded manager in the successful organisation usually numbers among their priorities the development of people, or human resource development.

Topics covered

Introduction to human resource development.
Observing and assessing HRD needs.
Planning: designing HRD activities.
Action: bringing learning to life.
Quality: reviewing and evaluating HRD.
Process section: integrative case.
Organisational HRD strategies.
HRD providers and partners.
E-learning.
Mentoring.
HRD and theory.
Policy-making and HRD.
Communities of practice: the knowledge management perspective.
Strategic HRD.
Perspectives integrative case: the Investors in People standard.
Looking ahead: the future of HRD.

Document Actions

Safwat Kabany
Syria

For Safwat Kabany, from Syria, doing his MBA with Edinburgh Business School was the most logical choice. "I'm in the petrochemical industry and Heriot-Watt University is one of the world-leading academic institutions in this field of industry. I therefore knew a lot about the high standards at Heriot-Watt and these are certainly evident in EBS's MBA programme."

Safwat decided to do the programme as a full-time on-campus student, which was not without its challenges, particularly for a foreign student. "I had to cope with both language and cultural differences, which at first were quite daunting. EBS, however, is very skilled at dealing with people from different backgrounds and cultures and it wasn't long before I felt very comfortable in this environment. The faculty are extremely helpful and take a keen interest in every individual. The facilities at Heriot-Watt for resident on-campus students are excellent and not having to worry about where I would live or how I would feed myself ensured that I could devote all my attention to my studies."...more