Discussion paper: furniture manufacturing industry

Abstract

The aim of the Developing Human Capability research programme is to identify the conditions for the optimal development of human capability in New Zealand organisations. To this end, we are investigating how organisations develop the skills and capability of employees, and the influences on this (e.g. organisational performance, government policy, vocational training systems, skill shortages, etc). We are also investigating what individual employees think about their skills and capabilities, how they have developed them, and what has influenced that development (e.g., job opportunities or lack of them, affordability or access to training, etc). Exploratory case studies of human capability development are being conducted in a number of New Zealand industries with the perspectives of employers and employees within organisations, as well as key personnel in industry and training organisations, contributing to our understanding. This discussion paper for the furniture manufacturing industry is based on interviews with seven owner-employers, and 22 employees from seven, geographically spread, furniture-making organisations.