Title: The changing roles of HRD in Thailand during the current economic crisis

Authors: Chiraprapha Tan Akaraborworn, Gary N. McLean

Addresses: National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA), NIDA 118 Sukhapiban 2 Klongchan, Bangkapi, Bkk. 10240 Bangkok, Thailand. Department of Human Resource Development and Adult Education, University of Minnesota, 420 VoTech Building, 1954 Buford Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108, USA

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine whether and how HRD roles were impacted by the current economic crisis. Interviews with ten experts, five scholars and five practitioners, were conducted in January 1999. The results verified that changes had occurred in HRD roles. During the economic boom preceding the crisis, HRD had worked more in service delivery than in strategy. During the economic crisis, there was some expectation that the strategic role would increase and many HRD roles would be more important. In contrast, others reported that line managers were being encouraged to perform some HRD roles, while HRD persons were performing their role as business partners. Some expected outsourcing to perform more efficiently than internal HRD, perhaps because many internal HRD professionals did not have sufficient knowledge in the field. There is need for quantitative research to establish a broader based perspective of these issues.

Keywords: global HRD; Thailand HRD; roles and functions.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHRDM.2002.001017

International Journal of Human Resources Development and Management, 2002 Vol.2 No.1/2, pp.64-77

Published online: 18 Aug 2003 *

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