Skin in the game: Conceptualising Human Resource Development Consultancy as a profession

  • John Watkins

Student thesis: Doctoral ThesisDoctor of Philosophy

Abstract

The HRD profession has been viewed as a weak profession in both industry and academic literature. This thesis challenges this view by exploring its relevance to HRD consultancy. Drawing on recent developments in the Sociology of the Professions and calls to further examine the factors that influence the way that HRD practitioners are positioned and perceived within organisations, this thesis proposes that HRD consultants use a form of professionalism common to new professions. Findings from a qualitative study of 45 consultancy websites and 29 semi-structured interviews with consultants and clients illustrate that HRD consultants work flexibly with the symbols and discourses of expertise, autonomy and authority and draw significantly on the contextual and relational nature of HRD work to strengthen their ability to diagnose, infer and enrich solutions to client needs. Network reputation, constructed by the client and shared by word-of-mouth referrals, enables consultants to move successfully between clients. Professionalism conceptualised as partnership was found to be a key resource for consultants to successfully manage risks associated with three weaknesses in HRD work – diagnosis, measurement and protecting reputation. This study contributes to a new understanding of the strengths of HRD consultancy as a profession and illustrates how HRD consultants have ‘skin in the game’ to ensure the success of their own professionalisation project through distinctive ways of doing HRD work. This study has implications for academics and professional bodies to view HRD as a heterogeneous profession and to develop a new understanding of different forms of HRD practice in organisations.
Date of AwardMay 2024
Original languageEnglish
Awarding Institution
  • Coventry University
SupervisorCrystal Zhang (Supervisor) & Nick Wylie (Supervisor)

Keywords

  • HRD
  • consultant
  • professions
  • professionalism
  • hybrid
  • reflexive thematic analysis
  • websites

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