ABSTRACT
HRD is recognized as a strategy to ensure the competiveness of business enterprises and nations in an increasingly globalized economy (Xie and Huang 2010). The Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) has declared the development of global human resources, people who can function and excel in an increasingly globalized life and work environment, to be the most important challenge for Japan (MEXT 2012a). MEXT argues that lifelong learning and personal development skills will keep Japanese citizens and organizations competitive. In Taiwan, helping small and medium enterprises (SMEs) create competitive advantages and adapt to the demand for human resources in a global economy is a priority. The Taiwanese Ministry of Economic Affairs has joined together with related government agencies, research institutions, public and private enterprises, and civic organizations to establish guidance systems to provide HRD and related assistance to these SMEs (MEA 1999).
