About us

Our mission

The HCD Lab supports the advancement of insights to improve our understanding and leadership of human capital systems. The lab seeks to address the current challenges that affect the sustainable development of human capital around the world.

The concept of the HCD Lab arose based on questions and inquiries from human capital leaders. The rapid transformation of the world of work demands we must keep abreast of the changes arising from revolutionary technologies, work modalities, and changing expectations. Protecting the integrity of human aspiration to strike a meaningful balance between work and life also looms large. Navigating these interlocked issues can prove overwhelming even for a resourceful entity. The HCD Lab seeks to lessen this burden and partner with leaders who are focused on optimizing the human capital system in their organizations.

Overview

As a development lab, our effort is centered on human capital with not only an academic lens, but also with an emphasis on what is important for practice in the current global environment. In this approach, we synthesize academic insights and practical application, finding solutions to human capital challenges.

The human capital system inside organizations is broader than traditional human resource management processes. While HRM is a critical part of obtaining and retaining talent, we need a more holistic view of the environment to address an individual's potential and performance in an organization.

The key elements that we consider in this human capital system include:

• Talent, which provides the capabilities in terms of knowledge and skills
• Structure, which determines how work is structured, measured, and managed
• Culture, which defines the norms and behavioral expectations of individuals and groups
• Human capital leadership, which sets the direction, tone, and orientation towards human capital in the organization

As changes in society and the world of work unfold, private enterprises, nonprofits, NGOs, and government entities often surface new challenges that point to new standards in the future of both practice and policy. The HCD Lab partners with these entities to ensure a collaborative, consistent focus on critical topics in contemporary operations, now and in the future.