The purpose of this paper is to explore the barriers to human resource development in the civil service ministries of the Sultanate of Oman. Primary data were generated from semi-structured interviews with 50 interviewees drawn from eleven organizations. Primary sources were complemented with documentation such as reports, rules, regulations and enactments. The picture developed of HRD in Oman is bleak. Major findings are that there is no real understanding of HRD concepts; there is a lack of strategic planning, poor career management, lack of job descriptions, ineffective performance appraisals, dominant self-interests, lack of appropriate training and a lack of top management support for HRD. These findings are interpreted in the context of Islamic work values which had a lower influence than was expected given the culture and religious history of the nation. Greater recognition of and adherence to Islamic values has a major role to play in reforming HRD in Oman.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the barriers to human resource development in the civil service ministries of the Sultanate of Oman. Primary data were generated from semi-structured interviews with 50 interviewees drawn from eleven organizations. Primary sources were complemented with doc...