The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships among investment in workplace learning, organizational perspective on human resource development (HRD), organizational outcomes of workplace learning, and organizational performance using the 2005 and 2007 Human Capital Corporate Panel (HCCP) surveys in Korean companies. The conceptual model proposed that investment in workplace learning was assumed to influence organizational outcomes of workplace learning, which affect in turn organizational financial performance. In addition, organizational perspective on HRD was expected to moderate between investment in workplace learning and organizational outcomes of workplace learning. The current study utilized nationally-representative datasets from the 2005 and 2007 HCCP surveys in South Korea to examine these relationships specified in the model at organizational level. In addition, the data were analyzed using structural equation modeling.
The results showed a significantly positive relationship between investment in workplace learning and organizational outcomes of workplace learning. The current research also found a significantly positive relationship between organizational outcomes of workplace learning and organizational performance. In addition, the mediating effects of organizational outcomes of workplace learning were identified between investment in workplace learning and organizational performance.
However, the moderating effect of organizational perspective on HRD did not exist in the relationship between investment in workplace learning and organizational outcomes of workplace learning. Moreover, this study compared two groups, manufacturing industry and non-manufacturing industry, to determine whether the conceptual model proposed in this study was the same for both the manufacturing industry and the non-manufacturing industry, using multiple-group SEM models. The results showed that there was a statistical difference in terms of the fit in the measurement model and the structural equation model for the manufacturing- industry and the non-manufacturing industry. When comparing two industries separately, the manufacturing industry showed greater magnitudes in all paths. But the magnitudes between two groups were not considerably different.
Based on the results of the study, several issues are discussed. Additionally, research directions for future research are recommended, and the both theoretical and practical implications for HRD were provided.