Developing Human Capital in American Manufacturing: A Case Study of Barriers to Training and Development / Edition 1

by Elaine B. Crutchfield

Overview

This qualitative case study of an American manufacturing organization describes the barriers which limited its ability to receive maximum return on its investment for training and development resources invested in their human assets. Changing global economics have forced organizations to the realization that their competitive advantage lies in developing and tapping into their human assets or human capital. Professionals, managers, human resource development specialists, and academicians alike have developed theories supporting the systematic development of human assets to improve performance and achieve organizational business goals. This book examines how one organization, typically described as a High Performance Organization, attempted to put theory into application. Specifically, the book examines the concepts of needs assessment, systems theory, organization development, human capital theory, and performance improvement. The results find a systemic failure in human asset development initiatives rooted in the failure to view the organization as a whole, systematically assess performance, and involve the entire organization in designing and implementing a holistic approach to improving performance and developing the organizations human assets. Specifically, inefficient organizational structure and lack of clearly defined business goals were significant barriers to the systematic development of their human assets.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780815335849
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	12/01/1999
Series:	Studies on Industrial Productivity: Selected Works
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	5.44(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

Table of Contents

Part I Understanding Organizations and Their Emphasis on Training; Chapter 1 The Half-Million Dollar Question; Chapter 2 Current Thoughts on Organizations and the Forces Impacting Their Performance; Chapter 3 Current Thoughts on Development of the Human Asset; Chapter 4 Summary; Part II The Study of an American Manufacturing Company; Chapter 5 The Design of the Study; Chapter 6 The Collection and Analysis of Data; Chapter 7 Summary; Part III The Results; Chapter 8 Training: Defined and Described; Chapter 9 Training: The Selection Process; Chapter 10 Assessment of Performance Needs; Chapter 11 Training: Evaluation; Chapter 12 Structure of the Organization; Chapter 13 Summary; Part IV Conclusions; Chapter 14 Discussion of Results; Chapter 15 Executive Summary;