Management development: contemporary trends, issues and strategies

Abstract

Recent changes have demanded a more strategic perspective from those who lead and manage organisations, placing increased pressure on employees to be more productive, innovative and change orientated. This has precipitated a search for a more integrated model of human resource development. This article discusses some of the debate that currently prevails within the field of management development. In doing so, it gives consideration to a range of definitional issues, current debates and a number of alternative but complementary management development strategies. The article concludes with a brief discussion of the issues involved in evaluating the effectiveness of management development, focusing in particular on the problems of measurement of outcomes.