Puerto Rican human resource professionals' perceptions of the concept, practice, and future of human resource development (HRD) in Puerto Rico

This qualitative study examines the practice of HRD in Puerto Rican Organizations. Semi-structured interviews were employed to explore the perceptions of thirty Puerto Rican HR/HRD practitioners about the concept, practice, and future of HRD in Puerto Rico. Based on participants' perspectives, five themes associated to the concept of HRD emerged: (1) financial benefits from HRD investment, (2) impact of HRD on employee satisfaction and motivation to work, (3) a strategic tool for achieving organizational goals, (4) performance improvement, and (5) assisting and facilitating change processes.; The state of HRD practice in organizations operating in Puerto Rico was characterized by a lack of systematic need analysis, increased use of evaluation methods, continuous demand for training and development, growing use of OD practices, low management support and commitment, contradictory views about the role of HRD, and a necessity for increasing the level of HRD professionalism.; Participants proposed three strategies for fostering HRD practices in organizations operating in Puerto Rico: (1) proving the benefits of HRD efforts, (2) getting involved in strategic planning processes, and (3) enhancing the level of HRD professionalism. Based on study's results, the following 5 conclusions were drawn: (1) HRD results in mutual benefits for both the individual and the organization, (2) The incorporation of systematic methodologies to HRD work can help HRD practitioners to most effectively address individual and organizational needs, (3) HRD efforts are key to the present and future survival capability of organizations, (4) Organization development is perceived as a broader view than HRD that helps to assist and facilitate organizational change processes, (5) HRD must be an active participant in business planning. Overall, the results of the study point to the need for HRD practitioners to play dual roles as operational and strategic players.