Human resource development: Proactive preparation to manage crises

Substantial increases in the incidence of global terrorism, political upheaval and major criminal activities, when combined with the ever present threat of natural catastrophes, are driving the need for effective preparation to manage crises (Pforr and Hosie 2007). Preparation for impending crises is arguably a key business strategy which is an integral part of any commercial recovery from such events. To be most effective, such preparation should ideally take place before crises occur, not only as a response to such occurrences. Professionally conceived and implemented Human Resource Development (HRD) is proposed as essential for private businesses, governments and community service initiatives to prepare to effectively respond to and manage crises (Ang and Hosie 2006; Hosie and Smith 2005). In addition, businesses and governments have a moral and legal responsibility to ensure that their employees have been provided with appropriate HRD to undertake their work safely, to avoid compensation and risk liabilities (Hosie 1994). One way of reducing the vulnerability of organisations to crises is to recognise and develop the capacity to build human capital, through HRD, as a way of effectively dealing with these challenges.