Assessment of Human Resource Development Practices and Challenges in Public Sector: Evidence From Selected Zone Offices in West Harerghe Zone Ethiopia

Every organization as a system uses different resources including physical, financial, material and human resources. Among these resources, human resource is the most critical asset of an organization and it is the engine that helps the organization to fulfill its mission and achieve its goals. To survive in a changing environment, every organization must develop its human resources. This is because the issue to be sustained and growth of any organization depends on the quality of human resource. Having this in mind, this study assesses the practices and challenges of human resource development in selected zonal public sector offices in the West Harerghe Zone of Oromiya Regional State, Ethiopia. The research used both primary and secondary sources of data. Cross sectional survey was employed to take a sample of 186 respondents by using simple random sampling technique to collect data through questionnaire. In addition, focus group discussions and interviews were used to confirm and verify the data by questionnaire. Data were analyzed and interpreted using descriptive statistics using statistical software SPSS 25.0 and qualitative technique. The finding of the study showed that the employees have good awareness towards HRD concept and they were able to relate those concepts with HRD. However, as the result proved the sector offices were not in a good tracking practicing training and development, career development, organizational development and performance appraisal. The finding also indicated that the sector offices were not in a position to doing personal analysis and confronted with the variety of challenges in the practice of HRD. Generally, according to the finding of this research the sector office did not have good HRD system. To minimize problems in the practice of HRD first and foremost, in the sector offices, HR should get due attention since it is an engine for other resource. In meeting HR need, the HRD practices should also focus on career development and post training evaluation should be exercised in order to increase the effectiveness of the program. Moreover, to overcome the challenges of HRD practice there is a need for skilled human and financial resources, to differentiate high and low performers by using performance criteria and providing the necessary technical and interpersonal support to make HRD process more sustainable.