This document contains two keynote papers presented at the 1996 conference of the Academy of Human Resource Development (AHRD). "Partnering for Research: The Ford Design Institute/UGA (University of Georgia) Research Project" (Karen E. Watkins, Lewis J. Bellinger) describes the Ford Design Institute's Manager as Instructor project and the joint research conducted by the Ford Motor Company and the University of Georgia to assess the effectiveness of the manager-as-instructor approach. "The Partnership Journey from Satisfaction to Performance: Human Resource Development Becomes a World-Class Business Partner" Timothy R. McClernon, Richard A. Swanson) discusses actions that have been taken by a large national company's training department to make the transition from being a provider of traditional training to being a provider of performance-based human resource development (HRD). The following elements are identified as key to the department's transition: (1) establishment of a business roundtable; (2) revision of its process for evaluating training program success by focusing on contributions to business performance rather than on participant satisfaction; and (3) formation of a business-scholarship partnership. Papers contain references. (MN)