Societal HRD and Societal Competitive Advantage

The Problem. The problem surfaced here is the development of societal competitive advantage and, in particular, the development of human resources; the awareness of this dynamic will allow human resource development (HRD) professionals to better understand the need for engagement with education providers in developing and protecting their future competitive advantage. The Solution. This article uses the Kingdom of Bahrain and its transition from an economy built on natural resources to a knowledge-based economy, as a lens for enquiry. The solution signposts a need for engagement between organizations and higher education institutions (HEIs) to lift the future competitive advantage of the country and the organizations that transact within its borders. The Stakeholders. The article emphasizes that success relies on cooperation between a triumvirate of stakeholders, including industry/enterprise, policy makers, and education institutions.