Learning and Talent Development

Learning and Talent Development

Article Type: Suggested reading From: Human Resource Management International Digest, Volume 20, Issue 1

Jim Stewart and Clare RiggChartered Institute of Personnel and Development2011ISBN: 9781843982500

Learning and Talent Development is a useful book for all involved with learning, training and development. The authors, Jim Stewart and Clare Rigg, have much experience in these areas. The former is chief examiner at the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development. The latter lectures at the Institute of Technology, Tralee, Ireland.

Stewart and Rigg state that there are three main reasons for writing the book. The first is to support people studying the subject of learning and talent development and also those studying for the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development module with the same title. The second reason is to describe and share the research and thinking of both the authors.

The third reason is that both authors believe that the subject of learning and talent development should be influenced to shape and improve professional practice. In particular, they believe there should be a critical approach to the subject and want students and business people to develop insightful skills and professional examination. The authors also express the view that they see education as a means of developing this critical practice, which will support the development of rigorous professional practice.

The aims of the book are:

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  to introduce and explore the concepts related to the CIPD module;

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  to describe the key theories;

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  to provide a resource for teaching and learning the subject; and

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  to facilitate a critically informed examination of the area of learning and talent development.

The target readership also includes those studying on other postgraduate courses such as MBAs, which include learning and development.

At the front of the book is a table showing how the CIPD learning outcomes for “learning and talent development” map against the chapter contents. This is useful, but because the book is linked to this module it does not cover areas related to other aspects of the CIPD syllabus, for example contemporary developments in the national system of vocational training and development, which are better covered in Rosemary Harrison’s Learning and Development.

There are 13 chapters divided among three sections: the nature, purpose and context of learning and talent development; the process of learning and talent development; and the management of learning and talent development. There is also a chapter by another author, Victoria Harte, on “Doing a student research project”, which will benefit students and practitioners who wish to conduct more rigorous operations. The chapters contain case studies that encourage the learner to relate and apply the theoretical discussion to real situations.

In conclusion, this is a good book, which will be very useful for both students and practitioners.

Reviewed by John P. Wilson, of the University of Sheffield, UK.

A longer version of this review appeared in Industrial and Commercial Training, Vol. 43 No. 4, 2011.