Personal development plans: evidence from research on their use

摘要

As the term indicates, a personal development plan (PDP) is a document completed by an individual that details their intentions and actions with regard to their own development. PDPs have become increasingly popular in organizations as perceived demands for staff to become more adaptable, flexible and empowered have grown in response to internal and external organizational change. Moves towards flatter organizational structures and the adoption of ideas about employability rather than security of employment have given credence to the view that individuals should take greater responsibility for their own development. The adoption of PDPs is seen to be in tune with the times. In addition to being a tool to be used by individuals for thinking through and recording their development, completed PDPs can provide a potential source of data about the organization's changing stock of human capital.