ABSTRACT
While ‘identity’ is implicit to many studies of Human Resource Development, there are contrasting emphases placed upon the individual as a resource to be worked upon in order to improve performance (HResourceD), or Critical HRD’s (or HumanRD) view of the individual as an entity imposed upon by organisational practice. Identity, however, is a complex topic in which there are many contrasting schools of thought. This chapter tackles the question ‘who is developed by HRD?’ by introducing three identity perspectives, social identity, identity work and discourse and identity. Emphasising HRD-relegant issues, we explain how each of these understand identity and the processes by which one is constructed, maintained and indeed changed. In unpacking these contrasting theoretical standpoints on identity our chapter concludes by arguing their ability to inform both HResourceD and HumanRD by opening up new research trajectories at both individual and organisational levels.
