Skip to main content

Strategies of HRD Practitioners in Different Types of Organization: A Qualitative Study Among 18 South Australian HRD Practitioners

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Part of the book series: Professional and Practice-based Learning ((PPBL,volume 5))

Abstract

This study aims to describe which actual strategies HRD practitioners use across different types of organization in shaping their roles. Semi-structured interviews were held with 18 HRD practitioners from South Australia to answer this question. In line with two earlier studies conducted in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, the Learning-Network Theory (Van der Krogt, 1998) was used as an interpretive framework. Interview data were analyzed qualitatively. Four different action domains emerged: ‘participants,’ ‘materials,’ ‘informing style,’ and ‘learning culture.’ Most respondents focused their strategies mainly on organizing learning activities for employees (‘participants’ and ‘materials’). Few differences across types of organization were found. Implications of these findings and directions for further research are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • Anderson, G., & Johnston, R. (1997). Human resource development: Developing the developers in a changing field. Paper presented at the Fifth Annual International Conference on Post-Compulsory Education and Training, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, 26–28 November.

    Google Scholar 

  • Argyris, C., & Schön, D. A. (1996). Organizational learning II. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buyens, D., Wouters, K., & Dewettinck, K. (2001). Future challenges for human resource development professionals in European learning-oriented organisations. Journal of European Industrial Training, 9, 442–453.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hytönen, T. (2002). Exploring the practice of human resource development as a field of professional expertise. PhD thesis, University of Jyväskylä, Finland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hytönen, T., Poell, R. F., & Chivers, G. E. (2002). HRD as a professional career: Perspectives from Finland, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom. In W. Nijhof, A. Heikkinen, & L. Nieuwenhuis (Eds.), Shaping flexibility in vocational education and training: Institutional, curricular and professional conditions (pp. 227–242). Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Kluwer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koornneef, M., Oostvogel, K., Harris, R., & Poell, R. F. (2002). Strategies of HRD practitioners in stimulating learning: An overview of theory and comparative empirical research. In J. Searle & D. Roebuck (Eds.), Envisioning practice, implementing change (pp. 166–174). Brisbane: Australian Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nijhof, W. J. (2004). Is the HRD profession in the Netherlands changing? Human Resource Development International, 1, 57–72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peters, V., & Wester, F. (1990). Qualitative analysis in practice: Including user’s guide Kwalitan version 2. Nijmegen, The Netherlands: University of Nijmegen, Department of Research Methodology.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peters, V., Wester, F., & Richardson, R. (1989). Kwalitatieve analyse in praktijk en handleiding bij Kwalitan, versie 2 [Qualitative analysis in practice: Guide to using Kwalitan, version 2]. Nijmegen, The Netherlands: ITS.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pluijmen, R., Poell, R. F., & Van der Krogt, F. J. (2001). Strategieën van HRD professionals bij het organiseren van leertrajecten [Strategies of HRD professionals in organizing learning programs]. Internal research report. Nijmegen, The Netherlands: University of Nijmegen, Department of Educational Sciences.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poell, R. F., & Chivers, G. E. (1999). New roles of HRD consultants in different organizational types. Paper presented at the VET Forum meeting on ‘learning in learning organizations,’ held in Evora, Portugal, November.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poell, R. F., & Chivers, G. E. (2003). Experiences of HRD consultants in supporting organisational learning. In B. Nyhan, P. Cressey, M. Kelleher, & R. F. Poell (Eds.), Facing up to the learning organisation challenge: Selected European writings (pp. 247–264). Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poell, R. F., Pluijmen, R., & Van der Krogt, F. J. (2003). Strategies of HRD professionals in organising learning programmes: A qualitative study among 20 Dutch HRD professionals. Journal of European Industrial Training, 27, 125–136.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Poell, R. F., Van der Krogt, F. J., Vermulst, A. A., Harris, R., & Simons, M. (2006). Roles of informal workplace trainers in different organizational contexts: Empirical evidence from Australian companies. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 17, 175–198.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Slotte, V., Tynjälä, P., & Hytönen, T. (2004). How do HRD practitioners describe learning at work? Human Resource Development International, 4, 481–499.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tjepkema, S., Stewart, J., Sambrook, S., Mulder, M., Ter Horst, H., & Scheerens, J. (2002). HRD and learning organisations in Europe. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van der Krogt, F. J. (1998). Learning-Network Theory: The tension between learning systems and work systems in organisations. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 9, 157–177.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walton, J. (1999). Strategic human resource development. Harlow: Pearson Education.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rob F. Poell .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Oostvogel, K., Koornneef, M., Poell, R.F. (2011). Strategies of HRD Practitioners in Different Types of Organization: A Qualitative Study Among 18 South Australian HRD Practitioners. In: Poell, R., van Woerkom, M. (eds) Supporting Workplace Learning. Professional and Practice-based Learning, vol 5. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9109-3_2

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics