Not Your Parents’ Organization? Human Resource Development Practices for Sustainable Flex Work Environments

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-170
Author(s):  
Ethan P. Waples ◽  
Meagan E. Brock Baskin

The Problem. Everything we know and understand about flexible work arrangements (FWAs) revolves around extant research exploring the effects and effectiveness of FWAs based on samples in which organizations and/or employees freely adopted their use. In a post COVID-19 world, organizations implemented FWAs and employees who may not have been prepared for or desired such arrangements. This has resulted in implementing FWAs in situations where the job, culture, or person does not “support” FWAs. The Solution. We suggest the economic uncertainty of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic should shift Human Resource Development (HRD) attention to managing the organizational climate of work and work expectations, specifically with regard to FWAs. We discuss how HRD practitioners can help, specifically by preparing managers for enhanced communication and feedback, as well as through supporting employee development via proactive job crafting, to better prepare managers and workers to accept and flourish in FWAs both short and long term. The Stakeholders. The stakeholders for this article include decision-makers in organizations interested in driving success through long-term initiatives rooted in developing human capital. In addition, this article should resonate with HRD professionals interested in working with managers and employees to systematically build sustainable FWA systems.

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 103
Author(s):  
Danial Danial ◽  
Nur Sari Dewi ◽  
Kafrawi Kafrawi

This study aimed to explain the development of the Human Resources model at IAIN Lhokseumawe in particular and Islamic Universities in general. The results showed that Human Resource Development at IAIN Lhokseumawe had focused on factors of trust, emotional ties, power relations, and career cycles. However, it had no discipline, did not have a platform that was designed and integrated, did not utilize the spirit of religion and culture as strong energy for the development of human resources. Therefore, IAIN Lhokseumawe is in a need of a comprehensive and futuristic human resource development model. This model was built based on HRD factors, HRD aspects, HRD methods, and HRD strategies/steps. HRD factors were emphasized on the platform designed, the work balance between employees, discipline, and the utilization of the potential of cultural plurality and Islamic spirit as an intrinsic power of human resource development. The development was carried out in an integrated and parallel way between individual development, career, organization, and performance management through flexible work arrangements, knowledge sharing, and the adoption of innovative technologies in a sustainable and strong leadership system.


Author(s):  
Claretha Hughes ◽  
Matthew W. Gosney

Technology and people are present in all organizations. How they are managed and developed is essential to the competitive advantage of organizations. Understanding the dynamics of this relationship is an area that needs to be better understood within the Human Resource Development (HRD) field. This chapter will explore the extent that HRD philosophy addresses the relationship of people and technology. Comparing people and technology has been a debate since the industrial revolution occurred in America (Swanson, 1982; Swanson, & Torraco, 1994). Man and machine are as essential to organizational prosperity as air and water is to living; yet, it is not often researched and published in HRD literature (Githens, Dirani, Gitonga, and Teng, 2008). Could this be why HRD professionals do not have a seat at the proverbial table in corporate America? Are HRD professionals and researchers denying that there is a relationship between people and technology in organizations? Are HRD professionals and researchers limited by their beliefs concerning the comparison of people to technology?


2014 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elaine Cox ◽  
Tatiana Bachkirova ◽  
David Clutterbuck

The Problem The interdisciplinary nature of the theoretical base of coaching creates practical approaches that are strongly influenced by organization-friendly theories, and fields such as counseling, psychotherapy, and philosophy. This eclectic use of theory creates uncertainty and sometimes leads to criticisms of coaching as being atheoretical and underdeveloped empirically. So, it is a difficult task for human resource development (HRD) professionals and particularly buyers of coaching to judge the relevance of numerous traditions of coaching and evaluate them for their HRD agenda. The Solution We highlight the theoretical foundations of coaching and develop a structural analysis of coaching engagement to indicate the potential interplay between organizational and individual agendas and to help HRD professionals become better informed about the value of coaching in the context of wider HRD paradigms. The Stakeholders HRD professionals, external coaches, internal coaches, and line managers who use a coaching approach, peer coaches, and leaders will benefit from the content of this article.


2018 ◽  
Vol 42 (7/8) ◽  
pp. 400-416 ◽  
Author(s):  
Szufang Chuang ◽  
Carroll Marion Graham

PurposeThis paper aims to provide a sobering and unique view of technological unemployment and job changes by identifying endangered jobs and skills, as well as the essential up-skills critical to employees’ performance, which cannot be replaced by technology.Design/methodology/approachA systematic literature review, used because it is replicable, transparent, and scientific, was implemented to examine the current and future technological influences on employment, job outlook, work structure, and human resource development (HRD).FindingsThe study concludes that HRD professionals should promptly reexamine their social responsibility relative to the technological influence on workers by focusing developmental efforts on employees’ human skills while assisting workers’ transition to a skill-polarized workplace. HRD professionals should play a major role in facilitating employees’ coexistence with robots in the workplace.Originality/valueWhile recognizing the valuable contributions of previous researchers with similar concerns, this comprehensive review provides an amalgamated and updated view, which reveals the escalating and combined challenges of a skill-polarized workplace, a tendency of technological unemployment for those positioned in middle-skill jobs, and an increased demand for employees with a higher level of human skills.


2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (1and2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Banalata Rath

Skilled, knowledgeable, and competent people are the key resource of any industry, be it manufacturing or a service sector. Higher degree and quality of performance of tasks always require higher degree of skills and knowledge. Human potential in every employee is vast and it can be further enhanced by various interventions like training, job rotation, feedback and counseling, organizational action, etc. that make the organization dynamic and growth oriented. People who are not able to contribute to the organization fully due to reasons beyond their control can also give the best if they are taken care of with more attractive working conditions and better organizational climate. Many services depend on direct personal interaction between customers and firms employees. Professionalism has become the buzzword in service industries and the corporate world now-a-days is fast realizing the importance of Human Resource Development in the new paradigm of business. This research paper is an attempt to evaluate the state of human resource development as is existent in the Orissa Tourism Development Corporation Ltd., a State – owned public sector undertaking of Orissa operating to provide the desired facilities and services to the tourists visiting the State. While analyzing various HRD aspects of OTDC, focus has been laid on employee training practice and performance appraisal system of the Corporation and suggestions have been given based on findings of the survey conducted for this research.


2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manish Gupta

The Problem The engagement literature suffers not only from inconsistent construct conceptualizations but also from the paucity of research in India, a country whose employment conditions differ substantially from those of the Western nations. Therefore, there is a need to have clarity on the contribution of the engagement construct to the field of human resource development (HRD) and examine the significance of engaging employees in India. The Solution To address the aforementioned research gaps, the objectives of this issue are to derive a clear understanding of the engagement construct and to gain fresh insights into the antecedents and consequences of engagement at work, particularly in the context of India. The Stakeholders This issue is expected to benefit researchers, HRD professionals, and organizations by identifying the strongest engagement predictor of employee performance, suggesting several ways of engaging workforce in India, and providing fresh insights into the nomological network of engagement at work.


2014 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 281-295 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristopher J. Thomas

The Problem Significant advances in technology and the increasing ways in which employees use it in their work and personal lives have led to an environment in which employees can work nearly anytime and anywhere. Although virtual human resource development (VHRD) brings with it useful efficiencies and increased opportunities for learning, the prospect of 24/7 learning can have a deleterious impact on work–life balance for employees. The Solution The aim of this article is to first explain how work–life balance and workplace technology interact to affect the lives of employees. The article models boundaries between these areas and recommends that attention to work–life balance become part of practice when human resource development (HRD) professionals design virtual learning or help develop workplace technologies and policies. The Stakeholders Stakeholders include HRD professionals, scholars who study work–life balance, and organizational leaders who implement workplace technology policies and practices.


2021 ◽  
pp. 152342232098292
Author(s):  
Kenneth M. Sweet ◽  
Stephanie L. Black

The Problem Many organizations are ill-equipped to mitigate the talent management challenges associated with extended leave for military reservists. Today, reservists take more long-term leave from civilian employment than at any point in modern history, due to more frequent and longer periods of active service resulting from persistent conflict. Yet, there is a lack of research on managing the dual careers of military reservists, and limited guidance is available for human resource development (HRD) professionals. The Solution We propose that opportunity exists in the effective career management of reservists, who receive extensive military training. This article draws on inclusivity research to provide a model for managing the HRD aspects of extended military leave. Rather than focusing on the compliance aspects of military leave, we believe organizations can increase the performance, commitment, and career progression of reservists to better capitalize on the skills and competencies gained through military service. The Stakeholders This article offers practitioners of HRD and HRM insights into building inclusive organizations for military reservists. Implications may also be of interest to scholars of military psychology, military reservists, and military-connected employees.


Author(s):  
Claretha Hughes ◽  
Matthew W. Gosney ◽  
Cynthia M. Sims

Historically, American workers are continuing to be displaced by the productivity gains of technology and the competition for cheap laborers in a globalized economy. Human resource development (HRD) professionals are seeking ways to address rapid, continuous changes in technology and some, unfounded, fears and concerns regarding the influence of globalization on middle-class workers. Globalization efforts do not need to equal unemployment for American middle-class workers. Globalization can add opportunities for American middle-class workers to increase their job prospects by learning new skills, including how to leverage technological innovations for their advantage within the global job market. HRD professionals have an opportunity to assist workers with their skill development and improvement.


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