Gene L. Roth

Downsizings, mergers, and acquisitions: Perspectives of human resource development practitioners

Purpose – This paper seeks to provide perspectives of HR practitioners based on their experiences with mergers, acquisitions, and/or downsizings.Design/methodology/approach – This qualitative study utilized interviews with 13 HR practitioners. Data were analyzed using a constant comparative method.Findings – HR practitioners were not involved in planning decisions related to downsizings, mergers, and/or acquisition. Neither the practitioners in this study nor other members of the HR team in their organizations had an upfront due diligence role in these change initiatives.Research limitations/implications – Additional research is needed to guide HRD practitioners in repositioning their roles so that they are more central to an organizations strategic decisions. Given the method of this study, the findings are not intended for generalization to larger populations. Future research should address the needs of HRD practitioners who are affected by downsizings, mergers, and/or acquisitions.Practical implicatio...

Mirth and Murder: Crime Scene Investigation as a Work Context for Examining Humor Applications

Within work settings, humor is used by workers for a wide variety of purposes. This study examines humor applications of a specific type of worker in a unique work context: crime scene investigation. Crime scene investigators examine death and its details. Members of crime scene units observe death much more frequently than other police officers and they encounter extremely graphic and violent sensory and mental images. Within this unique work context, humor resides. This study helps human resource development practitioners understand the purposeful application of humor in a specific work context. This increased understanding can help them to interpret humor applications and to use humor in their workplaces to achieve individual and organizational goals.

Non-governmental organizations and the socio-economic development of low-income women in India

This literature review focuses on the socio-economic development of low-income women in India. The study describes how non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in India attempt to fill gaps in governmental support for marginalized women in the Indian workforce. Some scholars have recommended expanding the boundaries of human resource development (HRD) to include multiple topics in a variety of contexts to investigate the holistic development of individuals. Gaps exist in current HRD literature regarding the status of low-income women in India. This article argues that many Indian NGOs are capable of serving the needs of women in informal work sectors and in addition, they can provide a broad non-traditional context for investigating HRD processes and services at a national level.

Information technology systems and the learning organization

Several authors have depicted the learning organization as a model of organization survival in the global economy. Learning organizations are able to adapt to their environments and learn effectively from their actions. This article explores the relationship of information technology systems to learning organizations. The article discusses ways that information technologies may be used to enhance individual, team and strategic‐learning.

Examining humour in HRD from theoretical and practical perspectives

Abstract Relatively little attention has been paid to the role of humour in HRD, despite its frequent occurrence in HRD activities. This paper summarizes discussions from a pre-conference on humour at the 2005 AHRD Conference in Estes Park, Colorado, provides a summary of humour theory and highlights the need for a research on the application of humour in HRD.

Work role transitions – expert nurses to novice preceptors

Purpose Several issues are reported in the literature regarding the preparation and training of nurses for the preceptor role. The purpose of this study is to explore the experiences, growth and development of nurses transitioning to the preceptor role in allied health contexts. Design/methodology/approach A basic interpretive qualitative research method was used for this study. In total, 20 preceptors who were practicing in a variety of healthcare settings participated in in-depth interviews. Findings The preceptors of this study found meaning through their teaching and learning encounters with novice nurses. Their meaning making led to identity development and new perspectives on both the nursing and preceptor roles. Research limitations/implications This study extends the literature on informal learning and training by focusing on the unique work role of nurse precepting. Conclusions of this study call for additional research that examines other occupational areas in which workers have transitioned from expert to novice again, and how training can enhance these transitions Practical implications Participants described several areas of improvement for preceptorships: additional administrative support, guidelines and standards for preceptor training and preparation and additional time and support for transitioning to the preceptor role Originality/value Work role transition theory was used in this study to examine the preparation and training of preceptors. This study features the voices of nursing preceptors who have experienced changes in their employment status and major shifts in their work roles transitioning from expert to novice to expert again.

A Comparison of the Importance of Competencies for Applying Microcomputers in Vocational Education.

AbstractA national sample including 134 vocational educators, representing 6 vocational disciplines, was surveyed to ascertain the relative importance of 47 competencies for applying microcomputers in vocational education. The 12-member DA CUM panel that generated the core of this competency profile was used as a comparison group in this investigation. A oneway ANOVA procedure was used to determine if significant differences (p < .05) occurred between the groups’ importance ratings on the 5 categories and their respective competencies. t-tests were used to identify which groups differed significantly. The groups’ ratings did not differ on the categories; however, there were significant differences on 5 of the competencies.