Marika Schaupp, M.Sc. (Econ.), Ph.D. Student
Email: marika.schaupp(at)helsinki.fi
Tel.: +358-30-4741 (switch board)
Postal address:
Finnish Institute of Occupational Health
Haartmaninkati 1
00290 Helsinki
Finland
Current Activities
THE NEW CONCEPTS OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
In the new economy the old mass production-based management styles have become too ponderous. Strategic time spans are getting shorter and organizations need to reorganize their production and service activities more and more frequently. Knowledge and flexible capabilities have become the most valuable resource for organizations. From the point of view of human resource development, this has led to two significant challenges. First, while there is a growing need for building new organizational capabilities, however in many cases the old, course-based training structures have proved to be inadequate. Second, it is no longer enough to support learning and development only within the framework of the currently predominant activity systems, because the whole logic that directs work and its outcome requires constant re-evaluation.
I am studying the new emerging logic of human resource development practices. I want to find out how human resource development activities are organized in companies today and in what ways HR practitioners take part in creating and maintaining organizational competencies. I am particularly interested in finding out how the recent, mainly ICT-driven changes in production modes and work have affected the HRD practices. This entails the definition of the emerging HRD concepts of the new economy.
My second research interest lies in discovering the different organizational elements and actors that contribute to the development of organizational capabilities. I want to see how these elements and actors work together in generating and enhancing learning and how the system of learning should be constructed in order to meet the challenges of today’s work.
My research site is a Finnish road building company that used to be a public service department but was recently transformed into a state-owned company. I conducted there a development project using the “Change Laboratory” method. The participant group consisted of human resource developers and other experts that are responsible for developing organizational competences. My main research data are derived from 1) videotaped laboratory sessions in which the participants analyze their work and its future development, and 2) the written materials they produce during the project. Additionally, in order to enhance my understanding of the site, I am conducting interviews and participatory observations.
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