Strategies of HRD professionals in organising learning programmes: a qualitative study among 20 Dutch HRD professionals

• Published in: Journal of European industrial training Vol. 27; no. 2/3/4; pp. 125 - 136
• Main Authors: Poell, Rob F., Pluijmen, Rachelle, Van der Krogt, Ferd J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bradford MCB UP Ltd 01.03.2003; Emerald Group Publishing Limited
• Subjects: Change Agents; Collaboration; Educational Strategies; Employee development; Employees; Foreign Countries; Human resource development; Human resource management; Human resources; Informal Education; Institutional Characteristics; Instructional Design; Interviews; Knowledge management; Literature Reviews; Netherlands; Networks; Organization and methods; Organization development; Professionals; Program Development; Qualifications; Qualitative research; Quality Control; Strategic planning; Studies; Theory Practice Relationship; Training; Netherlands; Human resource management; Human resource development; Organization and methods
• ISSN: 0309-0590; 2046-9012; 1758-7425; 2046-9020
• DOI: 10.1108/03090590310468949

This study aims to explore how current HRD strategies are put into practice and to what extent they are in line with theoretical ideas espoused in HRD literature. Two research questions are framed within the theoretical framework of learning-network theory. First, what strategies do HRD practitioners employ to organise learning programmes? Second, what problems and barriers do HRD practitioners encounter in organisational reality? The study is based on data collected from 20 Dutch HRD practitioners using a semi-structured interview questionnaire. A qualitative analysis was conducted on interview summaries authorised by the respondents. Results indicate a rather broad range of different HRD strategies employed and many problems and barriers encountered in putting preferred HRD strategies into practice. Explanations, implications, and limitations of the findings are discussed.