Routledge Studies in Human Resource Development – serie

This book focuses on human resource management (HRM) in the country context of Brunei Darussalam, analysing, comparing and contrasting domestic enterprises (DEs) with multinational enterprises (MNEs), and oil and gas with non-oil and -gas sectors, and draws out the comparative lessons for understanding the potential and performance consequences of HR interventions in resource-centred national economies. Work carried out more recently drawing a contrast between Asian capitalisms has established a number of important defining aspects inherent in economies in Asia; this helps to present approaches to establishing the way in which Brunei may be seen to be aligned with, and depart from, other business systems and frameworks in Asia.The existing literature highlights a trend towards focusing on the Asian context; however, most studies have focused on specific Asian countries, and research conducted in other contexts remains scarce. As the region gains economic prosperity, it is increasingly important to conduct some work that will be able to highlight the relevant HRM system(s) for other Asian contexts. Although some emerging Asian economies are still quite far from achieving developed nation status, it is however essential to understand the HRM systems prevalent in such economies as they can contribute greatly to the economic development there. Hence, this book highlights the importance of viewing the development and nature of HR in Brunei and locates the practice of HRM within the wider economic and political context, and draws out the theoretical and practical implications for understanding continuity in change in HR practice, and similarities with and differences from other emerging markets. It will be of interest to researchers, academics, and students in international and comparative human resource management.

Emerging multinational enterprises (or EMNEs) have made a huge impact on the international business stage by internationalising at a rapid rate. And they have performed remarkably well in both developing and developed countries. Accordingly, there is a growing strand of literature on how EMNEs manage their international human resource (IHRM) practices in different international contexts. However, the majority of the literature on IHRM practices of EMNEs is limited to explaining what international management practices EMNEs implement in their foreign subsidiaries and how they implement them. Too often, EMNEs struggle to transfer their weak management practices across national borders as they have limited experience, resources and capabilities when compared to MNEs from developed countries. Developing a better understanding on the manner in which EMNEs adopt their international human resource management and development practices abroad is, therefore, paramount to fully understand their globalisation-related behaviours. This dedicated book will aim to provide a holistic picture and contemporary insights on IHRM in emerging multinational enterprises. It will be of interest to researchers, academics and students in the fields of business and management, especially those with a particular interest in human resource management, firm internationalisation and emerging markets.

Coaching has become a global business phenomenon, yet the way that coaching has evolved and spread across the globe is not unproblematic. Some of these challenges include: different types/genres of coaching; understanding and relevance of different coaching philosophies and models in different cultural contexts; equivalency of qualifications and coach credentials, as well as questions over standards and governance, as part of a wider debate around professionalization. Coaching then, as with the transfer of knowledge and professionalization in other disciplines, is not immune to ethnocentricity.Through a combination of adopting a meta-analysis of coaching, supported with narratives of coaching practice drawn from different socio-political/cultural contexts, the aim of this book is to challenge current knowledge, understanding and norms of how coaching is, or should, be practised in different cultural contexts. This book will provide a foundation for further research in coaching as an academic field of study and as an emerging profession. It will resonate with critical scholars, coach educators, and coach practitioners who want to develop their praxis and enhance their reflexivity and be of interest to researchers, academics, and students in the fields of business and leadership, human resource development, organizational learning and development, mentoring and coaching.

Emerging multinational enterprises (or EMNEs) have made a huge impact on the international business stage by internationalising at a rapid rate. And they have performed remarkably well in both developing and developed countries. Accordingly, there is a growing strand of literature on how EMNEs manage their international human resource (IHRM) practices in different international contexts. However, the majority of the literature on IHRM practices of EMNEs is limited to explaining what international management practices EMNEs implement in their foreign subsidiaries and how they implement them. Too often, EMNEs struggle to transfer their weak management practices across national borders as they have limited experience, resources and capabilities when compared to MNEs from developed countries. Developing a better understanding on the manner in which EMNEs adopt their international human resource management and development practices abroad is, therefore, paramount to fully understand their globalisation-related behaviours. This dedicated book will aim to provide a holistic picture and contemporary insights on IHRM in emerging multinational enterprises. It will be of interest to researchers, academics and students in the fields of business and management, especially those with a particular interest in human resource management, firm internationalisation and emerging markets.

Human resource management (HRM) is the predominant apparatus for people management across the world. Since its inception, HRM has nevertheless been subjected to critical scrutiny. This work has produced a corpus of literature now referred to as ‘Critical HRM’.This book on Critical HRM traces the development of the critical scholarly tradition in people management. It analyzes, organizes and synthesizes the various perspectives, ideas and arguments that constitute this critical tradition. The book identifies the current status and future trends of Critical HRM, and explores its ethico-political role in contemporary organizations, especially in the context of widespread public concern about making business more ethical. Incorporating under-researched and emerging issues of people management, such as the Global South and Critical HRM, with more established themes of Critical HRM, this book introduces Critical HRM’s critique of mainstream HRM and its underpinning assumptions. It illustrates how interventions have the potential to transform organizational policies and practices of managing people at work. The book will be of interest to professionals, researchers, and academics focusing on critical issues in people management across the Global South and North.

Human resource management (HRM) is the predominant apparatus for people management across the world. Since its inception, HRM has nevertheless been subjected to critical scrutiny. This work has produced a corpus of literature now referred to as ‘Critical HRM’.This book on Critical HRM traces the development of the critical scholarly tradition in people management. It analyzes, organizes and synthesizes the various perspectives, ideas and arguments that constitute this critical tradition. The book identifies the current status and future trends of Critical HRM, and explores its ethico-political role in contemporary organizations, especially in the context of widespread public concern about making business more ethical. Incorporating under-researched and emerging issues of people management, such as the Global South and Critical HRM, with more established themes of Critical HRM, this book introduces Critical HRM’s critique of mainstream HRM and its underpinning assumptions. It illustrates how interventions have the potential to transform organizational policies and practices of managing people at work. The book will be of interest to professionals, researchers, and academics focusing on critical issues in people management across the Global South and North.

This book is concerned with the rapid and varied changes in the nature of work and work relationships which have taken place in recent years. While technological innovation has been a key contributor to the nature and pace of change, other social and market trends have also played a part such as increasing workforce diversity, enhanced competition and greater global integration. Responding to these trends alongside cost pressures and the need for continued responsiveness to the environment, organizations have changed the way in which work is organized. There have also been shifts in product markets with growing demand for authenticity and refinement of the customer experience which has further implications for how work is organized and enacted. At the same time, employees have sought changes in their work arrangements in order to help them achieve a more satisfactory relationship between their work and non-work lives. Many have also taken increased responsibility for managing their own work opportunities, moving away from dependency on a single employer. The implications of these significant and widespread changes are the central focus of this book and in particular the implications for workers, managers, and organizations. It brings together contributions from an international team of renowned management scholars who explore the opportunities and challenges presented by technological and digital innovation, consumer, social and organizational change. Drawing on empirical evidence from Europe, North America and Australia, Work, Working and Work Relationships in a Changing World considers new forms of service work, technologically enabled work and independent professionals to provide in-depth insight into work experiences in the 21st Century.

Positive Ageing and Human Resource Development seeks to introduce readers to some of the major cultural issues that the current demographic changes of the workforce as the national default retirement age within the UK has moved from 60 to 67 and beyond represent for the workplace. This phenomenon is happening in other economies. It recognises there are social shifts in terms of the psychological contract and expectations of different sets of workers. Rather than seeking to extend ideas around multi-generational research eg millennials and generation X/Y, it provides some contributions and commentary which may inform employers, HR professionals and those interested in Human Resource Development (HRD) when considering how to plan for these challenges. It considers the concerns that HRD thinking has largely been focussed upon the development of leaders or managing people, rather than how such sociological shifts may impact upon the nature of work and subsequent productivity. It recognises that many companies have failed to plan their people management strategies and talent management approaches to cope with this shift largely given their uncertainty how to address.It takes a set of contributions then, which focus upon different issues broadly based around age, in order to provide illustrations of some of the areas for discourse of the lived experiences of those affected by the probability of working into their late 60s or potentially even late 70s. Much of this is focussed around women’s working lives as the impact of later working represents a number of peculiar issues around the valuing of women’s work and its contributions.

Human Resource Development (HRD) involves the design, delivery and evaluation of learning and/or training interventions within organisations to improve the work performance of individuals and groups. This edited collection will demonstrate the potential of identity theorising for problematizing and reconceptualising HRD activities. Identity will thus be established as a foundation for enhancing HRD policy and practice. While identity has emerged as a key focus for theoretical debate and for empirical research within management and organisational studies, the potential of identity as a new paradigm for understanding learning and for examining HRD more broadly is still emergent. That identity has such potential can be seen in the increasing recognition that training and development for many contemporary occupations represents nothing less than a "project of the self".Identity as a Foundation for Human Resource Development will complete a gap in the market providing sound, single source, theoretical foundations from the latest trends in identity theorising, now a key area of organisation studies, and apply these to HRD policy and practice. The emphasis throughout will be on informing HRD policy and practice, research and education the book includes a chapter on resources and techniques for HRD educators. In short, the book will "put identity to work" for HRD scholars.The intended audiences are Human Resource Development scholars, academics, students and professionals, this exciting new volume will provide a thoughtful theoretical analysis and operational practise for modern HRD.

Science fiction can be seen as a diagnosis of the present, and a vision of possible futures. It therefore provides an excellent resource with which to interrogate both contemporary organizing processes and organizations as institutions. The marginal activity of science fiction has, however, been largely ignored in writing on organization theory. This international collection is the first book of its kind to explore how science fiction can enrich studies of organization by drawing on perspectives across the arts and social sciences.

The current orthodoxy is that 'knowledge' is the most powerful resource for organisational success. So how can managers develop the appropriate knowledge base to make their organisations grow? The answer lies in action research. Action research is increasingly perceived and used as a powerful methodology to promote professional awareness and development. However, there are very few texts that demonstrate how this can be utilised to promote management and organisational improvement or that emphasise the reflective nature of improving professionalism. Action Research in Organisations fills this gap. Aimed at both practising managers and university students alike, key features of this title include:* the location of management and organisational theory within a framework * examination of the principles and practice of action research* real-world examples and case studies of people attempting to improve their own situations through action research.

The current orthodoxy is that 'knowledge' is the most powerful resource for organisational success. So how can managers develop the appropriate knowledge base to make their organisations grow? The answer lies in action research. Action research is increasingly perceived and used as a powerful methodology to promote professional awareness and development. However, there are very few texts that demonstrate how this can be utilised to promote management and organisational improvement or that emphasise the reflective nature of improving professionalism. Action Research in Organisations fills this gap. Aimed at both practising managers and university students alike, key features of this title include:* the location of management and organisational theory within a framework * examination of the principles and practice of action research* real-world examples and case studies of people attempting to improve their own situations through action research.

This edited volume contains original chapters by some of the leading researchers and writers in HRD. It provides a definitive work on the design and conduct of research in HRD and identifies and examines the possibilities and limitations of particular methods and techniques. Emerging debates on the purpose, nature and practice and theoretical base of HRD are examined. Each chapter is structured with:* Statement of aims* Description of theoretical and empirical context^* Identification and examination of methodological issues* Description and evaluation of research design* Critical analysis and evaluation* Key learning points

This edited volume contains original chapters by some of the leading researchers and writers in HRD. It provides a definitive work on the design and conduct of research in HRD and identifies and examines the possibilities and limitations of particular methods and techniques. Emerging debates on the purpose, nature and practice and theoretical base of HRD are examined. Each chapter is structured with:* Statement of aims* Description of theoretical and empirical context^* Identification and examination of methodological issues* Description and evaluation of research design* Critical analysis and evaluation* Key learning points

'Lifelong learning' is moving from buzzword to reality for ever latger numbers of workers. Firms increasingly need their workers to be active, self-directed learners who contribute to innovations and improvements of processes, products and services. Companies that explicitly encourage and support worker learning, from a strategic perspective, are called 'learning organisations'.This book is the result of an European study into the changing views and practices of professionals in the field of Human Resource Development within such organisations.Focusing on Europe, the book contains authors and research from Finland, the UK, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, France and Italy. Theoretical explorations of the learning organisation and the changing face of HRD complement nearly thirty case studies of HRD functions.This book will be essential reading for both academics and professionals in the fields of HRD and lifelong learning.

Work Process Knowledge brings together the findings of twenty-four leading researchers on new forms of work and the demands these place on workers' knowledge and skill. Their findings, based on a new set of investigations in a wide range of manufacturing and service industries, identify the kinds of knowledge required to work effectively in the post-Taylorist industrial organization.Raising fundamental issues for current industrial policy, science and technology policy, and ways of managing the post-Taylorist organization and developing human resources, this book will be of essential interest to academics and professionals working in the fields of management, human resource development, and workplace learning.

Over the past ten to fifteen years there has been an increasing interest in emotion in organizations, in diversity, ethics, care and the ubiquitous pursuit of quality. These concerns, however, have consistently been reduced to issues of management and regulation. There is now a growing need to confront issues related to the dehumanization of organizations. This book brings these issues together, presenting an original construction of the organization via an emphasis on the (m)other.This book is not a feminist tract, nor is it primarily about the experiences of women in organizations. It rather argues that conventional representations of the organization are patriarchal, masculine, directed by the animus and that such representations reduce the notion of 'organization' to abstract relationships, rational actions and purposive behaviour.This challenging book will be of essential interest to all critical management theorists. With its innovative approach, it will also appeal to students, teachers, and all those looking for an approach to management that does justice to the complexity, ambivalence and chaos of the world of organizing.

In its description and analysis of the current context of research and practice of HRD in small organizations, this collection of essays provides a comprehensive and critical evaluation of current approaches. This evaluation leads to an exploration of a number and range of HRD methods as they are applied in the small organization context and provides a range of examples of research and practice which will inform and support the teaching of HRD.

Russ Vince examines learning as both a social and a strategic process, invariably linked to emotions and politics that are mobilized by attempts at learning and organizing. He makes a substantial contribution to theories of organizational learning and develops new ideas about critical reflection and collective leadership.The author outlines a critical perspective on HRD, arguing that staff responsible for learning and change in organizations have put too much effort into the development of individuals and not enough into understanding and engaging with organizational dynamics that limit and shape individuals' opportunities and abilities to learn and change. HRD is explained as an intervention within a political system and practice of management and leadership, with all the difficulties and contradictions that attempting to manage and to lead are likely to contain and reveal. This means that the focus of HRD is on action, on developing the capacity to act, on generating credibility through action, and on influencing and working with others in situations loaded with emotion and politics.

Human Resource Development in a Complex World presents a strong challenge to traditional Human Resource Development. Internationally renowned authors address HRD from within the notions and language of complexity, presenting multifaceted alternative perspectives to the current practice and theory of HRD.

Factors such as globalisation, restructuring, casualization of employment and the erosion of pension rights have led to massive tensions in contemporary organizations. By exploring the boundaries of the field of Human Resource Development this book asks where is HRD in the middle of all this and presents an innovative and challenging approach to HRD theory and practice.With contributions from a number of leading international scholars, the chapters draw upon a range of epistemologies and adopt a critically reflective perspective on the field. The chapters are divided into four sections moving from a critical perspective on the definition and boundaries of the field of HRD, through a re-thinking of the human-centred nature of HRD, and the organisational context within which HRD takes place, to, finally, perspectives on the future role of HRD in the changing knowledge economy.The book's main conclusion is that HRD remains a contested concept within the more broadly contested field of organisation and management theory. Yet this is neither a drawback nor weakness on the one hand, nor an advantage or strength on the other. Both threats and opportunities present themselves for the future growth of HRD as an academic field, and as an arena of professional practice

This book presents a challenge to feminist perspectives that see the glass ceiling as the exclusive domain of women's careers and work life. The authors address existing debates and extend them to include original empirical evidence from several US and UK comparative studies that look at the effect of caring for dependents (including care for children and elder care) upon the careers and aspirations of both men and women.

This book provides a reflexive critique of the assumptions of orthodox HRD research and practice and questions the conception of humans as resources, as well as the conventional performative focus of HRD. Examining the broader social, political and economic contexts, the book offers alternative perspectives for considering both the needs of individuals and the sustainable development of organizations in post-industrial economies.

The first book to look at both aesthetics and human resource development, this timely and original work investigates existing, as well as possible future, connections and relations between the two areas. Well structured and expertly written, The Aesthetic Challenges of Human Resource Development is undoubtedly a valuable reference for students of human resource management, business and management, and aesthetics.

Unprecedented investment is being made in leadership development across the public sector: leadership courses are growing, and development is a core theme of organizational capacity building initiatives. Within this, action learning has attracted increasing interest as an approach that can simultaneously address individual and organizational development. An impressive and scholarly collection, this book collates important examples and considers the evidence for action learning’s effectiveness. An important read for postgraduate students and researchers of human resources, training and development, this important book draws important insights to raise new questions concerning the role of the facilitator, the value of a ‘bilingual’ ability with public service issues and facilitation, comparisons with coaching and mentoring, and implications for employing action learning in a politicized or hierarchical environment and on a consultancy basis.

Across Europe and the world, countries are attempting to develop their health and social policies and practices to address the global challenge of increasing demand and pressurized supply, created by ageing populations, emerging technologies and finite resources (financial and human). This text provides examples of attempts to develop HRD practices in health and social care contexts within France, Ireland, The Netherlands, Romania, Russia, the UK and the USA. Thus, the book is European and international in both scope and appeal.

Recognizing a significant need to continually update the current body of knowledge on management development with the latest innovations in high quality research and practice in various parts of the globe, this book provides the most comprehensive and up-to-date work on the state of research and practice in management development.Hill and Stewart provide examples of both management development research and practice to inform and stimulate future research and to encourage the use of research-based practice in organizations. In particular, the book: Explores and assesses the various and varying meanings attached to the term ‘management development’ and its useProvides a range of examples of research and practice to inform and support the teaching of management development as a subject Provides a resource to HR practitioners and line managers to develop research-based and critically analyzed management development interventions. Drawing on the expertise of a wide array of contributors, the term ‘management development’ is explored and critically analyzed both conceptually and practically. This impressive volume is essential reading for students and academics across a range of subdisciplines including human recources development, human resources management and leadership.

In its description and analysis of the current context of research and practice of HRD in small organizations, this collection of essays provides a comprehensive and critical evaluation of current approaches. This evaluation leads to an exploration of a number and range of HRD methods as they are applied in the small organization context and provides a range of examples of research and practice which will inform and support the teaching of HRD.

This edited volume aims to evaluate the promises of workplace learning by addressing the following related questions: What are current developments in theory that informs workplace learning research? How can learning in the workplace be measured? What is the impact of various organizational settings (e.g., team-based work and call centres) on workplace learning? Which are the promising new avenues for research? And which research-based recommendations can be made to boost learning opportunities in various work contexts? The topic is conceptualized as an interaction between the individual and the work context, as a combination of individual and collective processes, as a link between cognition and action, and as a political process.With a wide array of contributions from academics such as Stephen Billet, Tara Fenwick and Victoria Marsick, this volume will be an important research and reference tool with all those academics and practitioners who are interested in the field of human resource development.Targeted at researchers, (post) graduate students, and reflective practitioners and managers interested in the area, "Workplace Learning" provides must-read material for anyone wanting to advance the theory, research, and/or practice of learning in the workplace.