Foundations of Human Resource Development, Third Edition

by Richard A. Swanson

Overview

The third edition of this classic is a must-have text for the human resource development (HRD) profession. It has with brand-new material on the impact of technology, globalization, and emerging business trends on HRD practice.

Human Resource Development is a large field of practice but a relatively young academic discipline. For the last two decades, Foundations of Human Resource Development has fulfilled the field’s need for a complete and thoughtful foundational text. This essential text provides an up-to-date overview of the HRD profession, along with the terminology and processes required for sound HRD research and practice. Readers will gain a basic understanding of

HRD models and theories that support best practice

History and philosophical foundations of the field

HRD’s role in learning, performance, and change in organizations

This new edition has been updated throughout and contains new chapters on assessment, technology, globalization, and future challenges. Examples of best practices are included, along with variations in core thinking, processes, interventions, tools, and much more. This must-have reference will help both practitioners and academics add clarity to their professional journeys.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781523092093
Publisher:	Berrett-Koehler Publishers
Publication date:	04/05/2022
Pages:	600
Sales rank:	844,948
Product dimensions:	7.19(w) x 10.31(h) x 1.72(d)

About the Author

Richard A. Swanson is professor emeritus of human resource development and adult education at the University of Minnesota, where he served on the faculty for twenty-five years. Following that tenure, he served as distinguished research professor of human resource development and the Sam Lindsey Chair in the College of Business and Technology at University of Texas at Tyler. Swanson has published extensively and has consulted with organizations in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa. He is the founding editor of both the Human Resource Development Quarterly and Advances in Developing Human Resources.

Table of Contents

List of Figures xv

Preface xix

Part I Introduction to Human Resource Development

1 Human Resource Development Boundaries 3

Introduction 3

Purpose of HRD 4

Definition of HRD 4

Origins of HRD 5

HRD Context 5

HRD Core Beliefs 11

HRD as a Discipline and a Professional Field of Practice 13

Conclusion 14

Reflection Questions 14

2 Basics of Human Resource Development 15

Introduction 16

Points of Agreement 16

HRD Worldviews 19

HRD Process 24

Threats to Excellent Practice 25

Ethics and Integrity Standards 26

Conclusion 27

Reflection Questions 27

3 History of Human Resource Development 29

Introduction 30

The Beginnings: Survival through Labor and Learning 30

1400-1800: The Renaissance 32

Apprenticeship in Colonial America 33

Industrial Era in America 34

Twentieth-Century Influences in America 36

Evolution of the Organization Development Component of HRD 38

Management and Leadership Development in the United States 42

Emergence of the HRD Research Community 48

Conclusion: HRD History Timeline 49

Reflection Questions 54

Part II Theory and Philosophy in Human Resource Development

4 Role of Theory and Philosophy in Human Resource Development 57

Introduction 57

Recognizing the Theory Development Process as Research 59

Requirements of a Sound Theory 61

Philosophy and Theory Underlying HRD 61

Philosophical Metaphors for HRD Theory and Practice 63

Contributed Karen E. Watkins Ajit Bhattarai, University of Georgia

Conclusion 78

Reflection Questions 79

5 Theory of Human Resource Development 80

Introduction 80

Perspectives on Theory and Practice 81

Theory Framework for All Applied Disciplines 83

Theory of Human Resource Development 84

Conclusion 97

Reflection Questions 98

6 Component Theories of Human Resource Development 99

Introduction 100

Psychology and the Discipline of HRD 101

Contributed Elwood F. Holton III, Louisiana State University

Economics, Human Capital Theory, and HRD 107

Contributed Richard J. Torraco, University of Nebraska

Systems Theory as a Foundation for HRD 116

Contributed Wendy E. A. Ruona, University of Georgia

Conclusion 125

Reflection Questions 125

Part III Perspectives of Human Resource Development

7 Paradigms of Human Resource Development 129

Introduction 129

Overview of the HRD Paradigms 130

Debates about Learning and Performance 132

Philosophical Views of Learning and Performance 133

Learning Paradigm of HRD 136

Performance Paradigm of HRD 139

Fusing the Two Paradigms 146

Conclusion 149

Reflection Questions 149

8 Perspectives on Performance in Human Resource Development 150

Introduction 151

Organizational Effectiveness as a Precursor to Performance 151

Disciplinary Perspectives on Performance 153

Financial Performance 157

Multilevel Performance Models 161

Process and Team-Level Performance Models 171

Individual-Level Performance Models 172

The Spoils of Performance 175

Conclusion 176

Reflection Questions 177

9 Perspectives on Learning in Human Resource Development 178

Introduction 179

Theories of Learning 179

Learning Models at the Individual Level 188

Learning Models at the Organizational Level 198

Conclusion 202

Reflection Questions 202

10 Traditional Information and Communication Technology in Human Resource Development 204

Introduction 204

Information and Communication Technology in HRD 206

Contributed Theo J. Bastiaens, Open University of the Netherlands

Conclusion 218

Reflection Questions 219

Part IV Developing Expertise through Training and Development

11 Overview of Training and Development 223

Introduction 224

Views of T&D 225

Key T&D Terms and Strategies 229

The General T&D Process 231

Instructional Systems Development (ISD) 232

Training for Performance System (TPS) 234

Individual-Focused T&D 243

Team/Group-Focused T&D 245

Training Roles and Responsibilities 247

Conclusion 247

Reflection Questions 248

12 The Nature of Expertise 249

Introduction 249

Knowledge versus Expertise 250

Definitions of Expertise and Competence 254

Conclusion 264

Reflection Questions 265

13 Training and Development Practices 266

Introduction 267

Variations in T&D Practices 267

Core T&D Practices 268

Individual-Focused T&D Practices 271

Group-Focused T&D Practices 271

Work Process-Focused T&D Practices 275

Organization-Focused T&D Practices 277

Conclusion 280

Reflection Questions 280

Part V Unleashing Expertise through Organization Development

14 Overview of Organization Development 285

Introduction 285

Views of OD 286

Key OD Terms 293

The General OD Process 293

Action Research: Problem-Solving Method 296

OD Process Model 299

OD for Performance System 301

Conclusion 304

Reflection Questions 305

15 The Nature of the Change Process 306

Introduction 307

Core Dimensions of Change 309

Change Outcomes 312

General Theories of Change 312

Resistance to Change 317

Focused Perspectives on Change 320

Leading and Managing Organization Change 332

Conclusion 334

Reflection Questions 334

16 Organization Development Practices 335

Introduction 336

Variations in OD Practices 336

Core OD Practices 338

Organization-Focused OD Practices 339

Work Process-Focused OD Practices 342

Group-Focused OD Practices 346

Individual-Focused OD Practices 349

Conclusion 351

Reflection Questions 353

Part VI Advancing Human Resource Development

17 Strategy and Human Resource Development 357

Introduction 358

Schools of Strategic Thinking 358

Strategic Roles of Human Resource Development 358

Contributed Richard J. Torraco, University of Nebraska

Scenario Planning 371

Contributed Thomas J. Chermack, Colorado State University

Conclusion 381

Reflection Questions 383

18 Assessment in Human Resource Development 384

Introduction 384

Program Assessment Approaches to Accountability 385

Balanced Scorecard and Intellectual Capital 389

Results Assessment System 392

Financial Assessment 395

Conclusion 400

Reflection Questions 400

19 Policy and Planning for Human Resource Development 401

Introduction 401

Human Resource Development Policy and Planning 403

Contributed Toby M. Egan, University of Maryland

Conclusion 414

Reflection Questions 416

Part VII Human Resource Development into the Future

20 Challenges of Self-Managed Learning and Career Development 419

Introduction 420

Self-Managed Learning: Agent Learners 420

Contributed Patricia A. McLagan, McLagan International

Career Development and Human Resource Development 428

Contributed Hyung Joon Yoon, The Pennsylvania State University

Reflection Questions 434

21 The Age of Digitalization, Automation, Big Data, and Artificial Intelligence 436

Introduction 436

Human Resource Development in the Age of Digitalization, Automation, Big Data, and Artificial Intelligence 437

Contributed Mesut Akdere, Purdue University-West Lafayette

Conclusion 448

Reflection Questions 449

22 Globalization Impacting Human Resource Development 451

Introduction 451

Globalization and Human Resource Development 452

Contributed DaeSeok Chai, Colorado State University

Conclusion 463

Reflection Questions 465

23 Human Resource Development Moving Forward 466

Introduction 467

Disruption-The Faster and Better Challenge 467

Globalism-The Systems and Economic Challenge 472

Values-Beliefs on the Ropes 476

Conclusion 478

Reflection Questions 478

References 481

Name Index 547

Subject Index 559

About the Author 569

Contributors 571

Editorial Reviews

Foundations of Human Resource Development is unquestionably the seminal work in the field.”
—Thomas J. Chermack, Professor, Organizational Learning, Performance, and Change, Colorado State University, USA
 

“HRD executives, practitioners, and scholars are awash in techniques promising to help people and organizations develop. This edition of Foundations of Human Resource Development provides the basis for choosing wisely.”
—Patricia McLagan, CEO, McLagan International, USA
 
 
 “Foundations of Human Resource Development should be required reading for those aspiring HRD excellence.”
—Thomas N. Garavan, Professor of Leadership Practice, University College Cork, Republic of Ireland.

From the Publisher