Invited Reaction: Birds of a Feather? HRD and Business Schools Should Flock Together

摘要

Peter Kuchinke has written a powerful and relevant article that should generate much discussion in the human resource development (HRD) community. Kuchinke's main point is clear: just as the master of business administration (MBA) curriculum has undergone a withering critique about relevance in today's rapidly changing marketplace, HRD programs need to undergo a similar examination. He then sets the stage for further discussion by offering a critique of HRD curricula, highlighting the implications and providing some recommendations for the field and its academic programs. Though not explicitly stated, Kuchinke is addressing the most important problem facing the field of HRD: the inability of most HRD professionals to bring leadership to the mission-critical functions of their organizations. I applaud his analysis but have concerns about some of his conclusions. I would put the issue in the form of a question: What do HRD professionals need to do to gain respect and get business executives to pay attention to what they bring to the table? I can help answer that question within the context of Kuchinke's article. I write this response from the perspective of my personal experience as a businessperson, with a career of 32 years in the corporate world, holding titles including senior vice president and chief learning officer; as a former student, earning an undergraduate degree in business and a master's and doctorate in HRD; and now as a professor in a school of business, teaching courses in communication, leadership, and strategy. A brief word of caution before you read further: some members of the Academy of Human Resource Development (AHRD) are not going to like what I have to say.