Darren C. Short

The Link Between Research and Practice: Experiences of HRD and Other Professions

Creating synergy between research and practice is viewed as the basis for creating successful and meaningful HRD outcomes and is fundamental to the maturation of the profession. Given this, there is naturally an interest in the strength of the relationship between research, theory, and practice, and this has been reflected in the journals of the Academy of Human Resource Development from their inception. In this article, the authors summarize some of the key points from the last 10 years of those journals and put them in the context of research-to-practice experiences in other professions. We conclude that HRD practitioners, practice, and professionals are hampered by the lack of connection between practice and research in the field.

Defining HRD Scholar-Practitioners

What do we mean by the term HRD scholar-practitioner? This article describes the role of HRD scholar-practitioners in closing the gap between research and practice and, in so doing, offers a definition of HRD scholar-practitioners. The definition emphasizes HRD scholar-practitioners as a bridge between HRD research and HRD practice, as grounding their practice in research and theory, as champions of research and theory in the workplace and in professional associations, and as researchers who disseminate findings from their own research and practice.

Better Know an HRD Scholar: A Conversation with Verna Willis

This article contains a conversation with Verna Willis and is part of a series that focuses on Human Resource Development (HRD) scholars, the aim being to understand better the people behind the names we see in print. Verna was at Georgia State University from 1988 to her retirement in 2004, and led the Georgia State programme to an Outstanding HRD Academic Program Award in 1997. She was on the first Board of the Academy of Human Resource Development, and is known as the founder of the chief learning officer concept. Prior to academia, Verna was an HRD practitioner for more than 20 years.

Better know an HRD scholar: a conversation with Monica Lee

This article contains a conversation with Monica Lee, and is part of a series that focuses on different HRD scholars – the aim being to better understand the people behind the names we see in print. Monica is a Life Member of Lancaster University, was a founding member of the University Forum of HRD, and was the founding editor of Human Resource Development International. The conversation explores Monicas background, how she got into HRD, how she overcame dyslexia and recovered from her cerebral hemorrhage, how the University Forum was created, and how HRDI came about. The conversation also considers the consequences of placing boundaries around HRD, about how we are guided by our subconscious, and about the impact on HRD of future changes to organizations and structures.

Better know an HRD scholar: a conversation with Gary N. McLean

This article contains a conversation with Gary N. McLean and is part of a series that focuses on HRD scholars, the aim being to understand better the people behind the names we see in print. At the time of writing, Gary was Senior Professor and Executive Director of International Human Resource Development Programs at Texas A&M University. He was also Professor Emeritus at the University of Minnesota where he helped build the worlds number one HRD academic programme. He is a former President of the Academy of Human Resource Development and recipient of the Outstanding Scholar Award from the Academy of Human Resource Development and is one of only three living scholars in its Scholar Hall of Fame.

Better know a Human Resource Development (HRD) scholar: a conversation with Robert (Bob) G. Hamlin

This article contains a conversation with Robert (Bob) G. Hamlin and is part of aseries that focuses on different human resource development (HRD) scholars. Theaim is to better understand the people behind the names we see in print and at HRD scholarly conferences. Bob is professor emeritus and chair of HRD at the University of Wolverhampton Business School, UK and a management and organization development consultant at Oaken Consultancy. Bob has spoken at many HRD conferences in Europe and the United States and was one of the founding members of the University Forum for HRD. The conversation explores Bobs career in HRD practice, research, teaching and management. Among the topics covered are the significance of practical experience and the influence it can then have on research, the power of evidence-based practice, and the need for HRD research to be seen as relevant and having utility within the world of practice.

Better know an HRD scholar: a conversation with John Bing

This paper contains a conversation with John Bing, and is part of a series that focuses on different human resource development (HRD) scholars – the aim being to better understand the people behind the names we see in print and at HRD scholarly conferences. John is Chairman of the Board at ITAP International, is a well-known scholar-practitioner, was a recipient of the ASTD International Practitioner of the Year Award, and received the AHRD Service Award in 2010. The conversation explores Johns background, how he got into HRD, his time in the Peace Corps, his work with Geert Hofstede, and his wide range of experience in cross-cultural HRD. The conversation also considers how world experiences improve research and practice, the benefits and challenges of applying research in practice, and the importance of practitioners having a sound education in research and statistics.