The authors thank Sandy Bell and Paul Grenier for providing feedback on this manuscript.
Human Resource Development Review Vol. 7, No. 2 June 2008 198-217
DOI: 10.1177/1534484308316653
© 2008 Sage Publications
Toward an Integrated Model of
Expertise Redevelopment and its
Implications for HRD
ROBIN S. GRENIER
MARIJKE KEHRHAHN
University of Connecticut
Traditionally, expertise theories have focused on skills acquisition with
little regard for the domain or contextual factors affecting expertise devel-
opment and retention. Because the development, retention, and recruiting
of individuals with expertise is critical to organizational success, it is
essential that HRD professionals understand the influence of such factors
on individuals, and how to address these changes and the redevelopment of
expertise. This article proposes a Model of Expertise Redevelopment (MER)
illustrating the redevelopment of expertise in three states—dependence,
independence, and transcendence. Connected through continuous develop-
ment, the states are influenced by three territories: content, constituency,
and environment. Although the model can explain the initial development of
expertise, it is the model’s representation of the impact of change on existing
expertise that makes it unique. It also contributes to a broader theoretical
foundation for research on this topic and calls for further investigation of
the interconnectedness among the three states and the territories influencing
expertise redevelopment.
Keywords: career development; career transition; domains of expertise; exper-
tise; human resource development
The concept of expertise is central in comprehensive models of human
resource development (HRD) and must be seen as a highly influential char-
acteristic of organizations (Herling, 2000). Swanson and Holton (2001, p. 4)
defined HRD as “a process for developing and unleashing human expertise
through organization development and personnel training and development
for the purpose of improving performance.” Lynham and Cunningham
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