Human development is a complex field including economics, psychology, politics and even philosophy. Its definition has evolved especially since the United Nations published its first Human Development Report in 1990. It has taken time for businesses and to adapt the human development approach into management practice. Today, especially in Asia where human development is a crucial goal for the three largest workforces (China, India, ASEAN), companies are focusing on human development in strategy, leadership and training. Human behavior is an important topic since it allows companies to manage human development in different environments and cultures, not only for growth but also for change and transformation in business.
The subject of human development is now considered a goal in itself in organizations and in the workplace environment, balancing the goal of performance. Today, human development is far better understood in concepts and use cases referenced in publications. Yet the concept itself is not new: throughout history many of the most important philosophers in the West and the East, including Aristotle and Confucius, have about human development and have been used as the foundations of education and ethics. If you want to learn more about this fascinating subject, here are the books you need to get:
Measure of Man: Leading Human Development
Author, entrepreneur, teacher, innovator, and strategist, Bob Aubrey adapted human development to be a management concept. Aubrey describes the role of human development in the modern world and shows why business leaders need to understand it in order to manager their workforce. He introduces a concept called “Key Development Indicators” or KDIs which allows companies to set measurables goals for human development and assess organizational development. He provides cases of companies using human development measures to manage growth, span cultures and adapt to change.
The Human Spark: The Science of Human Development
Psychologist Jerome Kagan explores what are the natural laws associated with the science of development in human beings. He distinguishes between two concepts – universal laws and individual laws of human development. He gives an account of man’s exploration of the question: “How do we become who we are?” The book has the quality of grasping the attention of different kinds of readers. You do not have to belong to a certain profession or need to have specialist studies to understand the context explained in the book. It is a practical guide for everyone who wishes to learn about human development in the truest form.
Who Moved My Cheese?
A key aspect of human development is “change”. The author Spencer Johnson details the importance of understanding change and preparing oneself for it. The book is widely used by managers who wish to inspire their employees by helping them understand change; its benefits, its challenges, and how to navigate one’s position when dealing with change, especially in key aspects of work and life.
