Navigating On-Site Challenges and Opportunities in Training and Development: Insights from HRD Practitioners in Motor Industry

Abstract: Human resource development (HRD) practitioners play a pivotal role in shaping the success of organizations, with their primary focus on training and development. In today’s ever-evolving business environment, HRD practitioners face new challenges and opportunities as they navigate an emerging landscape influenced by rapid global changes, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The Global-scale changes have significantly impacted the approach to training and development. As an example, there has been substantial interest from both scholars and practitioners in technology-driven training (Chai & Park, 2022; Hajjami & Park, 2023; Hughes, 2021). The rapid environmental change has had an extensive influence on the motor industry.
The motor industry possesses unique characteristics in terms of the training and development context. This sector operates in a highly competitive environment, marked by rapid technological advancements and a consistent demand for skilled talent. Ongoing learning and development are essential for ensuring that employees remain competitive. Thus, to meet industry-specific needs and objectives, HRD practitioners, especially within the motor sector, must continuously cultivate in-depth knowledge of industry-specific trends, technological advancements such as electric vehicles and autonomous driving, digital transformation, complexities of global workforce management, compliance with stringent regulations, sustainability initiatives, supply chain intricacies, and more. However, HRD practitioners encounter varying degrees of challenges in the field. Among the foremost challenges is the need to harmonize traditional corporate culture with contemporary global HRD practices. This challenge is particularly evident in organizations with hierarchical structures that strongly emphasize seniority, which can create barriers to fostering constructive changes for innovation.

Given this context, our empirical study aims to explore both existing and emerging challenges experienced by HRD practitioners. Additionally, this proposed study seeks to provide invaluable insights into on-site challenges faced by HRD practitioners within the motor industry. This study will be conducted as a case study, leveraging in-depth interviews with HRD practitioners. Case studies are “the preferred strategy when ‘how’ and ‘why’ questions are posed, when the investigator has little control over events, and when the focus is a contemporary phenomenon within some real-life context” (Yin, 2003, p. 1). By engaging in qualitative research, we aim to gain a comprehensive understanding of on-site challenges faced by HRD practitioners within the motor industry. Through these practitioners’ insights, we aspire to underscore the pivotal role of HRD in maintaining a competitive edge within this dynamic sector. Furthermore, the strategies proposed by the authors will provide a blueprint for HRD professionals aiming to navigate similar challenges in other industries.
Keywords: training and development, HRD practitioners, motor industry