The Founding of the Academy of Human Resource Development. (November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pace, R. Wayne
• Other Names: Watkins Karen E. guest-editor.; McLean Gary N. guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Advances in developing human resources. Volume 18:Number 4(2016)
• Page Start: 454
• Page End: 466
• Publication Date: 2016-11
• Subjects: founding -- Academy of Human Resource Development -- Wayne Pace; Personnel management -- Periodicals; Organizational effectiveness -- Periodicals; Human capital -- Periodicals; 658.30105
• DOI: 10.1177/1523422316659899
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1523-4223

Abstract

The Problem. The Academy of Human Resource Development (AHRD) evolved out of a perception that a practitioner-focused professional association (American Society for Training and Development [ASTD]) was not accommodating the interests of many members of the academic community, especially during annual meetings. Although a Professor's Network existed, in the context of a meeting of working professionals, the network was too restricted in the kinds of scholarly presentations that could be made.The Solution. Ultimately, most of the academicians who were members of ASTD coalesced into a determined group dedicated to fashioning an independent society and creating a successful scholarly association.The Stakeholders. Members of AHRD—whether practitioners or scholars—will find it instructive to learn the behind the scenes story of the evolution of a professional association. For all who might imagine embarking on a similar process of invention, the connections between a personal life trajectory of the founder and the needs of a profession provide a study in perseverance and vision.