An organized learning experience provided within a limited time period to improve job performance & growth is referred to as Human Resource Development (HRD). Training is a component of human resource development in which special programs are designed to provide specific employees with knowledge & skills that are helpful for their present jobs.
Activities of Human Resource Development
The following activities are included in the area of human resource development:
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Training & Development
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Organizational Development
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Career Development
Training & Development
Training is related to the provision of certain skills & knowledge that help trainees overcome deficiencies in job performance. On the other hand, development is related to providing skills to employees so that the organization can utilize them in the future.
Organizational Development
It is the application of behavioral science knowledge in an organization so that strategies, processes & structures are improved through proper development & reinforcement.
Career Development
Career development is defined as organizational assistance provided to employees for acquiring the required knowledge & skills to perform their current job as well as future jobs effectively.
Organizations develop certain policies for employees such as promotion opportunities, future performance excellence, and counseling so that employees can develop their careers. It includes knowledge, skills, experience, reinforcement & behavior modification techniques that enable employees to perform better and add value.
Human Resource Programs
Human resource programs are classified into the following three types:
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Training
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Education
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Development
Training
Employees receive training so they become capable of performing the duties of their current job effectively.
Education
Employees who are considered potential & efficient enough for promotion are given education. Education prepares employees for different jobs either at a higher level of hierarchy or at a lateral level.
Development
To provide new viewpoints, technologies, and broader horizons, development programs are conducted to make employees proactive and capable of meeting expected organizational performance standards.
Human Resource Development Methods
Employee abilities can be developed through both on-the-job and off-the-job methods. The details of these methods are as follows:
Job Rotation
In this method, efforts are made to increase employees’ knowledge, skills & abilities by moving them to different positions. Employees can be rotated both vertically & horizontally. Vertical rotation is also called promotion.
Assistant-to Position
Sometimes an efficient employee works under the supervision of a successful manager from another area. In this way, the employee’s abilities & skills are groomed under proper guidance so they can be prepared for higher-level duties.
Committee Assignment
Employees gain development opportunities through committee assignments by participating in decision-making, identifying organizational problems, and observing others.
Lectures & Seminars
This is a traditional method in which lectures & seminars are arranged to help employees gain knowledge and develop analytical & conceptual abilities.
Simulations
Simulators are complex devices that create artificial situations similar to real ones. By creating duplicates of real situations, employees are trained to perform tasks practically.
Outdoor Training
Outdoor training is considered one of the most effective HRD methods. Trainees are trained to work together as a team. The main aim is to understand employee responses when they face natural challenges.
Preparation of Succession Plan Program
Succession plans include details of job positions currently open in the organization and positions that may open in the future, along with methods for filling them.
If management decides to fill positions internally, training & development programs are required to prepare employees for promotion.
If management decides to hire externally, careful labor market analysis is needed to find qualified & suitable replacements.
Role of Line Managers in Human Resource Development
Line managers perform the following roles in HR development:
• Provide orientation training to new employees
• Assess training needs & plan developmental strategies
• Are responsible for on-the-job training
• Ensure proper transfer of training to trainees
Role of HR Department in Human Resource Development
The HR department is directly involved in HR development by performing the following roles:
• Providing employee orientation training
• Supporting the preparation of management development programs
• Providing proper training & development to employees in need
• Evaluating training programs to measure their effectiveness
