Sustainability Learning in Organizations: The Role of Human Resource Development and Proposed Framework
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11113/sh.v8n1-2.839Keywords:
Sustainability learning, human resource development, contextual factorsAbstract
Learning through training and development programmes has been seen as an important vehicle to embed sustainability in organizations. This paper aims to conceptualize a model of sustainability learning in organizations and to understand the pivotal role that Human Resource Development plays in facilitating the learning process. It also explores relevant contextual factors that may influence the learning process engaged by employees in developing knowledge about sustainability. To fully understand the process of sustainability learning in organizations, this paper analyzes relevant theories on sustainability, Human Resource Development and learning theories. Results of the literature review will act as a basis to propose a framework which future researchers may refer to in studying sustainability learning in organizations. The proposed framework shall act as a point of departure to the development of holistic sustainability learning model through initiatives of Human Resource Development. Â
References
Alshahi, M. (2008). How Contextual Factors Shape Organizational Change Implementation, available online www.brunel.ac.uk/data/asset/phdsimp
Amini, M. And Bienstock, C.C. (2014). Corporate sustainability: an integrative definition and framework to evaluate corporate practice and guide academic research, Journal of Cleaner Production, 76, 12-19.
Atkisson, A., Hatcher, R.L, Green, S. (2004). Introducing pyramid: A versatile process and planning tool for accelerating sustainable development, The Natural Advantage of Nations, Draft Version 4
Armstrong, M. (2001). A Handbook of Human Resource Management Practice, Eight Edition
Arevalo, J.A, Castello, I, Colle, S.D, Lenssen, G., Neumann, K and Zollo, M. (2011), Introduction to the special issue: integrating sustainability in business models,
Journal of Management Development, 30 (10), 941-954
Ardichivili, A. (2013). The role of HRD in CSR, Sustainability and Ethics: A relational model, Human Resource Development Review, 12(4), 456-473
Angheluta, S.P, Margina, O, Zaharia, A and Arionesei, G. (2014), The role of human resource in sustainable development of the energy sector. Ecoforum Journal, 3(1), 4
Batra, M.M. (2012). The Sustainability Challenge and its Business Solution, CF, 10 (1), 182-190
Ballard, D. (2005), Using learning process to promote change for sustainable development, Action Research, 3(2), 135-156
Bansal, P and DesJardine, M.R (2014). Business Sustainability: It is about time. Strategic Organization, 12 (1), 70-78
Baharin, I and Abdullah, A. (2011). Sustainable business in Malaysia: The need for talent ecosystem, International Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 11(4), 30-
Canziani, B. F., Sonmez, S., Hsieh, Y.J & Byrd,E.T. (2012). A learning theory framework for sustainability education in tourism, Journal of Teaching in Travel and
Tourism, 12 (1), 3-20
Coetzer, A. and Perry, M. (2008). Factors influencing employee learning in small business, Education and Training, 50(8/09), 648-660
Coleman, G. (2013). Sustainability as a learning challenge, Journal of Management Development, 32(3), 258-267
Craig, C.A and Allen, M.W (2013). Sustainability information sources: employee knowledge, perceptions and learning, Journal of Communication Management,
(4), 292-307
Diesendorf, M. (2000). Sustainability and sustainable development, in Dunphy, D., Benveniste, J., Griffith, A and Sutton, P (eds), Sustainability: The Corporate Challenge of the 21st Century, Sydney: Allen & Unwin, Chap.2, 19-37
DeLong and Mehalik (2013). Opportunities and obstacles on the path to business sustainability, American Journal of Management, 13(3), 98-112
Dlouha, J., Barton, A., Janouskova, S. and Dlouhy, J. (2013). Social learning indicators in sustainability-oriented regional learning networks, Journal of Cleaner
Production, 49, 64-73
Elkington, J. (1994). Towards sustainable corporation: Win-win business strategies for sustainable development. California Management Review, 36(2), 90-100
Fabricatore, C. and Lopez, X. (2012). Sustainability learning through gaming: An exploratory study, Electronic Journal of e-Learning, 10(2), 209-222
Garavan, T.N. and Carbery, R. (2012). Strategic Human Resource Development, In International Human Resource Development: Learning, Education and Training
for Individuals and Organizations, (3rd ed), 23-44. London: Kogan Page
Garavan, T.N and McGuire, D (2010), Human Resource Development and Society: Human Resource Development’s role in embedding corporate social
responsibility, sustainability and ethics in organization, Advances in Developing Human Resources, 12(5), 487-507
Garg, B. (2014). Human resource driving force of sustainable business practices, International Journal of Innovative Research and Development, 3(7), 378-382
Hansmann, R. (2010). “Sustainability learningâ€: An introduction to the concept and its motivational aspects, Sustainability, 2, 2873-2897
Henry, A. D. (2009). The challenges of learning for sustainability: A prolegomenon theory, Human Ecology Review, 16(2), 131-140
Kim, N. (2012). Societal development through human resource development: contexts and key change agents, Advances in Developing Human Resources, 14(3), 239-250
Knowles, M.S, Holton, E.F and Swanson, R.A., The Adult Learner: The Definitive Classic in Adult Education and Human Resource Development, 7th Edition, Butterworth-Heinemann
Lankester, A.J. (2013). Conceptual and operational understanding of learning for Sustainability: A case study of the beef industry in north- Eastern Australia, Journal
of Environmental Management, 119, 182-193
Lee, C.Y, Wu,H.L and Liu, C.Y . (2013). Contextual determinants of ambidextrous learning: Evidence from industrial firms in four industrialized countries, IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 60(3), 529-540
McBride, M. (2011). Triple bottom line by design: Leading as if life matters, The Design Management Institute, 22(1), 6-14
Muthuveloo, R and Ping, T.A (2013). Achieving business sustainability via I-Top Model, American Journal of economics and Business Administration, 5(1), 15-21
Moyer, J.M, Sinclair, A.J and Diduck, A.P. (2014). Learning for sustainability among faith-based organizations in Kenya, Environmental Management, 54, 360-372
Noe, R.A (2013). Employee Training and Development, 6th Edition, McGraw-Hill International Edition.
Saadatian, O., Haw, L.C, Mat, S. and Sopian, K. (2012). Perspective of sustainable development in Malaysia, International Journal of Energy and Environment, 6(2), 260-267
Schneider, H.D., Livitz, I.E and Schneider, D. (2013). Sustainable learning for sustainability, Journal of Organizational Transformation & Social Change, 10(2), 124-147
Sterling, S. (2010), Transformative learning and sustainability: sketching the conceptual ground, Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, 5, 17-33
Slaper, T.F. and Hall, T.J. (2011). The triple bottom line: What is it and how does it work? , Indiana Business Review,.4-8
Shaharir, B.M.Z and Alinor, M.B.A.K. (2012). The need for a new definitions of sustainability, Journal of Indonesian Economy and Business, 28(2), 257-274
Thomas, T.E and Lamm, E (2012), Legitimacy and organizational sustainability, Journal of Business Ethics, 110, 191-203.
Tollin, K and Vej, J. (2012). Sustainability in business: Understanding meanings, triggers and enablers, Journal of Strategic Marketing, 20(7), 625-641.
Velazquez, L.E., Esquer, J. and Munguia, N.E. (2011). Sustainable learning organization, The Learning Organization, 18(1), 36-44.
Wagner, B and Svensson, G (2014). A framework to navigate sustainability (TBS) model, European Business Review, 26(4), 340-367.
Wals A.E.J and Rodela, R. (2014). Social learning towards sustainability: Problematic, Perspectives and promise, NJAS-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences, 69, 1-3.
Wang, G.G and Wang, J. (2004). Toward a theory of human resource development learning participation, Human Resource Development Review, 3(4), 326-353.
Waaa, T., Huge, J., Verbruggen, A. and Wright, T. (2011). Sustainable development: A bird’s eye view, Sustainability, 3, 1637-1661.
Zakirah, O. and Amran, M. (2011). Design strategies to persuasive learning for promoting sustainable practices in paddy farming, American Journal of Economics and Business Administration, 3(1), 197-202.