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This paper aims to explore the applicability of Strategic HRD in Mauritius. Additionally, it assesses if Mauritius, with a high HDI factor, can take the lead on Strategic HRD in Africa.

This paper used a mixed-approach questionnaire. A sample of 21 managers was contacted and received a response rate of 67 per cent.

Most organisations in Mauritius do not practice human capital development at a strategic level but rather at a tactical one. Strategic HRD is mostly practiced at the implementation level of the business strategy rather than at the formulation stage of the mission, vision and strategy itself. However, the practice of strategic human resource development stays a minority within some very few organisations, as they acknowledge the benefits that Strategic HRD brings along.

The limitation of the sample considered for this research is a relatively small one to be representative of the Strategic HRD practices in Mauritius as a whole. It identifies implication for improving the current Strategic HRD state in the island.

The paper directly impacts on the Strategic HRD practices of organisations and reveals loopholes to be remedied within the present HRD systems.

This paper not only proposes a first research in terms of Strategic HRD in Mauritius but also assesses the island’s position as being an HRD leader in Africa. Simultaneously, it provides a tailor-made conceptual framework for Strategic HRD in Mauritius.

The purpose of this article is to outline the role of human resource development (HRD) in Lean strategy as the context for assessing interactions with internal customers. Identifying the perceived gap in role expectations and fulfillment emphasizes important priorities and offers tangible measures for assessing HRD contributions. A focus on business strategies such as Lean enhances HRD's strategic value. Central to the study is the proposition that HRD value and effectiveness revolves around the perceptions of key internal stakeholders in the organization.

This study explores internal customer perceptions of HRD in a select organization using a qualitative case study method. Key stakeholders responsible for Lean implementation were identified as internal customers. Further, the focus on Lean helped to narrow the scope of the investigation. Interactions between key stakeholders and HRD professionals during Lean implementation were assessed.

The findings from the study suggest that effectively performing transactional responsibilities (reducing employee relations incidences, errors in processing routines) not only strengthen transactions effectiveness, but also enhance HRD's capacity for strategic involvement in the organization. Involvement in Lean strategy was considered critical as it highlights opportunities for increased strategic involvement for HRD. A new finding from the study suggests that a focus on HRD's strategic value also enhances transaction effectiveness. Further, ignoring, excluding or undervaluing HRD role and involvement in business strategy adversely affects organizational effectiveness.

Communication of role expectations between organizational group members (HRD and internal customers) would reduce the level of disagreement, reduce potential conflict and enhance the value and effectiveness of HRD. In order to pursue this line of thinking in practice, the study recommends HRD practitioners to become intentional about the selection and development of potential business partners in the organization.

The study suggests that HRD's transactional responsibilities influence customers' perceptions of HRD's capacity for a strategic role in the organization. Effectively performing transactional responsibilities not only enhances HRD effectiveness but also offers opportunities for increasing HRD's added value to the organization. A new finding from the study also suggests that a focus on the strategic value enhances HRD effectiveness in organizations.

The dynamic environment in which the academic library operates requires explicit links between business strategy and a new management priority including the development of people; this is the focus of human resource development (HRD). It serves the needs of an organization by ensuring that employees’ expertise is state-of-the-art, something that is critical in a period of rapid technological development coinciding with ever-expanding societal needs. HRD can be relied upon to support and shape a wide range of academic library initiatives requiring a competent and engaged workforce by recognizing people as the organization’s most critical asset, one that drives competitive advantage and helps it out-perform the market. Emphasis is placed on developing an organizational context that will attract and develop talented individuals and leaders and keep them engaged. Furthermore, HRD activities must respond to job changes and integrate staff skills sets with the long-term plans and strategies of the organization thus ensuring the efficient and effective use of resources. This chapter explores HRD as a strategic concern of the organization and how it can best serve the organization in the long term. In so doing, it considers how HRD can help the academic library focus resources in those areas where there are strong likelihoods that they can produce substantial improvements in future capacity and performance. This kind of strategic planning helps the organization configure resources within a dynamic competitive environment, thus serving market needs and satisfying stakeholder expectations, helping meet its business purpose and maintain its strategic direction. The case study developed here highlights the need for the effective linkage of HRD and strategic planning for the advancement of the academic library. It suggests the need for developing and implementing both a strategic plan and an HRD plan and developing a culture of strategic human resource development (SHRD) in academic libraries.

This article reviews some of the literature on strategic human resource development focusing in particular on the characteristics of such activities, conditions necessary for the promotion of HRD and the possible benefits to an organisation pursuing such activities. Empirical evidence is presented on HRD policy formulation and planning processes in Irish High Technology companies. In conclusion a number of critical issues are considered which must be focused upon by organisations wishing to develop a strategic focus in their HRD activities.

Revisits the literature on strategic human resource development (SHRD) in the context of Garavan’s work on the characteristics of SHRD. A conceptual framework is constructed that redefines SHRD stressing a shaping rather than supporting role for HRD in relation to corporate strategy. The concept of strategic maturity in HRD is examined linking the work of Garavan; Lee and McCracken; and Wallace. The resulting model of strategic maturity is then analysed empirically using data from a major questionnaire and interview survey. A new model of strategic partnerships in HRD is then proposed.

Focuses on the emergence of human resource development. Traces the emergence of HRD in the training and development literature. Also examines the extent to which a strategic approach to training and development is practised in industry. Concludes by examining the implications of a move towards a more strategic approach to training and development.

This article is a theoretical presentation of human resource development (HRD) within the context of strategic management. It represents a single component view of human resource management (HRM) by concentrating on developing human assets only. According to this view, HRM is too complex and multidimensional an entity to be handled as a set of people‐related activities in relation to strategy. The article presents conceptions of strategic HRD based on earlier theory, and deduces three distinct logics, labelled as need‐driven, opportunity‐driven, and capability‐driven approaches to HRD. These approaches are summarized in an integrated framework which is suggested as an illustration of the full potential of HRD’s contribution to the business success. Accounts of organizations adopting the approaches are presented.

The purpose of this paper was to test and explore alignment theory as a guiding principle for human resource development (HRD) by performing an empirical study. HRD scholars, professionals and others have adopted or assumed alignment theory to help explain HRD effectiveness.

Constructs to measure an organisation’s strategic priorities and its HRD practices. A measure of HRD effectiveness was developed. A survey gathered data from 270 employees, managers and HRD staff in a sample of 76 organisations.

The results show that HRD effectiveness does not vary with alignment as predicted. Forms of partial alignment, or the relations of an “odd couple”, are more strongly associated with HRD effectiveness than high alignment.

The use and integration of both normative measures (Likert scale) and ipsative measures (ranking) is necessary to capture alignment, but this limits the inferential statistics available to test validity and reliability. Qualitative data on case studies would be useful to explore alignment issues in context and depth.

Stakeholders in organisations can use the “odd couple” interpretation of alignment as a fresh way to review and explore the opportunities and challenges of managing HRD effectiveness in an era where a narrowing and retrenchment of provisions is occurring and increasing.

This study provides evidence which raises questions about alignment theory and policies intended to increase alignment. It suggests in the case of HRD, an alternative perspective that validates partial alignment can support effective HRD provisions.

This paper aims to operationalise a modified strategic human resource development (SHRD) framework to examine managerial perceptions of the strategic embeddedness of human resource development (HRD) in organisations in times of business and economic uncertainty.

The paper draws on qualitative research data, following a case-study research design and semi-structured interviews with 44 participants to enable an in-depth investigation of managerial perspectives.

Research findings outline complexities in both understanding and operationalising SHRD in times of crisis which flow from managerial differing viewpoints.

Research findings and conclusions are subject to “respondent bias” as events occurred several years ago, thus participants may not fully recall how SHRD has changed over time. Focussing on a unique industrial sector, as well as to a specific national context, limits the generalisation of the findings in comparative contexts.

Owing to the ongoing business and economic uncertainty, this study could serve as a powerful tool at the hands of HRD professionals to effectively assess the nature of their HRD interventions in their organisations.

Having a modified SHRD framework assessed in volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous contexts, the reality of SHRD in organisations is examined. In addition, focussing on a single sector overcomes the “one-size fits all” proposition of prominent SHRD models. Finally, the paper expands SHRD literature by examining managerial perspectives on SHRD into understudied national and industrial contexts.

Reviews the literature on strategic human resource development (SHRD) and explores the concept specifically in the context of the work of Garavan (1991), which highlighted nine key characteristics of SHRD. Garavan’s seminal paper is used as a starting point from which to examine the development of the concept of SHRD. By examining and reviewing the literature, the nine characteristics are redefined and enhanced, thus moving towards a new model and definition of SHRD. Concludes by defining SHRD as the creation of a learning culture, within which a range of training, development and learning strategies both respond to corporate strategy and also help to shape and influence it. It is the reciprocal, mutually enhancing, nature of the relationship between HRD and corporate strategy which lies at the heart of SHRD and at the heart of the development of a learning culture.