That Old Fungible Feeling

Defining human
resource development

By
Ms. Panatda konpoothorn
Ms. Kanokporn Niensiri
 The American Heritage
Dictionary(1985)

HRD

Human Resource Development

Human= a member of the genus Homo

Resource= available capital assets
Development= the act of developing “which involves” realizing the
potentialities
 In specie or fungible

 Ruona’s 1999 analyses of the core beliefs as following:

1. Developing the human resources of an organization or the
resources of the human
2. HRD is defined by its work with people or organization
Human being as “in specie” or not?
Those scholars emphasizing human development make the
following points:
1. HRD is responsible to and for individuals, rather than to the
organization.
2. HRD helps people reach their full potential through development.
3. Individuals choose their development goal based on their
individual, unique needs and desires.
Black’s law dictionary(2000)
 Those scholars emphasizing resource
development make the following point:
1. HRD should serve the system’s mission and goats:
2. HRD is a handmaiden of the system
3. HRD is defined by its work with organizations
4. HRD should enhance organizational performance

Such statements view the human as a “fungible” entity

within the larger system or organization
Fungible : identical with others of the same nature or those which by
any unit, by nature or usage of trade, the equivalent of any other like
unit
The Path ahead

Rather than recommend either of these definitions by Darlene

Russ-Eft of the scholars on these points :
1. HRD serves multiple stakeholders.
2. HRD professionals should make every effort to
maximize( win-win-win)
3. HRD sometimes has to choose among competing aims.
For example : An organization to evaluate the implementation of
a “ learning how to learn” program. It wants to enable
employees to learn in the future
References

 The old Fungible feeling: Defining Human Resource

Development by Darlene Russ-Eft.
 Vol.1 Human Resource development (HRD concept by Aj.
Saratid Tong Sakulkoo