Ron Elsdon – författare

This book explores the perspectives of experienced practitioners, sharing ideas about building and sustaining organizational strength through workforce development practices and systems.In an environment where information, service, and knowledge are primary sources of value creation, workforce strength is central to securing prosperity. Written by practitioners for practitioners, Building Workforce Strength: Creating Value through Workforce and Career Development bridges the disciplines of organization and individual development, showing those charged with organizational progress why workforce strength is a key component of prosperity—and how it can be achieved.This hands-on volume is organized in three sections that establish a foundation for workforce and career development, explore implementation in organizations, and examine the process's implications for working with individuals. Showcasing workforce and career development practices and systems for both represented and nonrepresented populations, it provides a framework, techniques, and examples that will guide approaches to building workforce strength. Applications of workforce and career development principles in a variety of sectors, such as healthcare and high technology, offer tangible examples of these principles in practice.Contributions from 16 experienced practitioners of workforce and career development Multiple examples of practical applications of workforce and career development initiatives from major industry sectors, such as healthcare and high technologyTwo lengthy case studies, including one on Kaiser Permanente 19 quantitative and qualitative figuresAn extensive reference list from the workforce and career development fields

An invaluable resource for general readers at any career stage, this book explains why, when, and how to engage in a fulfilling, nontraditional career path that is both inspiring and practical.The paradigm of the successful career has shifted. No longer is working for a single company or even within a single career field throughout one's lifetime the norm. Today, many people are considering nontraditional paths to achieving success. How to Build a Nontraditional Career Path: Embracing Economic Disruption explains what such a career path looks like and details the benefits and challenges of pursuing this option. Author Ron Elsdon identifies the types of individuals who will likely find nontraditional careers attractive and examines critical strategic issues, thereby enabling the reader to assess whether and how such a path might fit their personality, life goals, and career objectives. The information presented will benefit those considering "something different" at their entry to the workforce, individuals in middle or later career stages re-assessing their direction, people re-engaging with a career at an encore stage, or those whose previous career paths have been disrupted by an external event such as job loss.

This book draws on studies that quantify the link between individual development and organizational value creation. Strengthening this link is key to building a strong sense of affiliation and a more productive workforce. The author provides frameworks for characterizing the workforce, listening to the organization, using inclusion as a key differentiator, and applying mathematical modeling techniques to explore and quantify related areas.We are entering an era when it makes sense to move away from mere retention strategies of control and toward more mutually beneficial strategies of affiliation. This trend can be traced to the recognition of the knowledge worker's influence and the value of human capital in today's economy. To succeed in this emerging work world, organizational leaders and human resource professionals must create new relationships with individuals built around the concept of affiliation. This will mean changed roles and behaviors that respect mutual interests, and will require a culture of inclusion expressed internally through workforce diversity, externally through workforce partnerships, at a community level through philanthropy, and globally through the pursuit of a greater good.

Social responsibility has become a goal for both employers and employees in the business community. But what does the term “social responsibility” mean, and what paths must businesses take to make a positive impact on society? Business Behaving Well provides a rationale and roadmap that will enable businesses to integrate social responsibility into their purpose and operations. Using real-world examples from a broad variety of industries, including health care and education, Ron Elsdon and his contributors describe how nonprofit and public sector entities can structure effective relationships with private firms for everyone’s benefit. Addressing strategic issues as well as practical implementation, Business Behaving Well is for anyone who is actively engaged in the business world, individuals working in the public and nonprofit sectors, and students and faculty who study the relationship between business and social issues. Business Behaving Well provides both the tools and structure to apply principles of business social responsibility while inspiring readers with enthusiasm and the confidence to take action.