Because of its focus on improving work performance at the individual, group, organizational, and interorganizational levels, the field of human resource development (HRD) is affected by and responds to trends in work, organizations, and the global economy. A literature review reveals that the following themes recur throughout the HRD literature: work force diversity; cross-cultural issues; the learning organization; technology in work and learning; increasing numbers of older workers; informal learning; and spirituality in the workplace. HRD practitioners are debating a set of core issues related to professionalization of the field. The HRD research has been criticized for lacking a strong theoretical basis. Qualitative methods and stronger links among theory, research, and practice are a continuing focus. Another set of issues involves the relationship between adult education and HRD. Adult education claims a humanistic, learner-centered, self-directed focus on transforming individuals, whereas HRD is oriented toward bottom-line, behaviorist performance improvement aimed at organizational goals. Commonalities and complementarity in the two fields are being identified, especially as many universities merge and integrate these programs. A trend toward aligning vocational education and HRD is also emerging in recognition of their common endeavor of work force education. (A 28-item annotated bibliography constitutes approximately 75% of this document.) (MN)