Building Workforce Strength : Creating Value through Workforce and Career Development

This book explores the perspectives of experienced practitioners, sharing ideas about building and sustaining organizational strength through workforce development practices and systems. In an environment where information, service, and knowledge are primary sources of value creation, workforce strength is central to securing prosperity. Written by practitioners for practitioners, Building Workforce Strength: Creating Value through Workforce and Career Development bridges the disciplines of organization and individual development, showing those charged with organizational progress why workforce strength is a key component of prosperity—and how it can be achieved. This hands-on volume is organized in three sections that establish a foundation for workforce and career development, explore implementation in organizations, and examine the process's implications for working with individuals. Showcasing workforce and career development practices and systems for both represented and nonrepresented populations, it provides a framework, techniques, and examples that will guide approaches to building workforce strength. Applications of workforce and career development principles in a variety of sectors, such as healthcare and high technology, offer tangible examples of these principles in practice. Contributions from 16 experienced practitioners of workforce and career development Multiple examples of practical applications of workforce and career development initiatives from major industry sectors, such as healthcare and high technology Two lengthy case studies, including one on Kaiser Permanente 19 quantitative and qualitative figures An extensive reference list from the workforce and career development fields