ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explores the history of human resource development as a field of academic study as well as practice, and looks at how it translates into learning and development activities which many organizations now place at the heart of their operation. It considers the changing economic and social conditions of the world of work which are resulting in the multigenerational workforce becoming the norm. The book explores the concepts of inclusion and diversity and the arguments supporting the employment of a diverse workforce. It looks briefly at the growth, development, and application of employment law which deals with diversity and inclusion in its broadest sense, and age discrimination in particular. The book explores the growth, development, and application of theories of learning as they apply to different groups of employees stratified by age.
