Let Me Tell You Why - by Rob Foshay, CPT, PhD and Honorary Lifetime Member of ISPI

Let me tell you why ISPI is my professional home, and has been for over 30 years. Why? ISPI does things that are interesting, and important.

Yes, Human Performance Technology (HPT) is interesting! The holistic, systems view of organization performance makes HPT an endless learning experience, with many subspecialties and career path options within it. The pure technical and professional challenges of each new project are endlessly fascinating-–there’s no such thing as a “routine” HPT project!

HPT is also important. Attainment of important business objectives is always the goal and the standard for HPT. It provides many innovative analytical frameworks for strategic planning, thus assuring that our clients’ strategic objectives are important, too.

ISPI has consistently attracted the “best and the brightest” in the field. This is an organization of disciplined, analytical thinkers who know how to apply what they know to the messy, complex real world. A mentor of mine cautioned me against the “hardening of the categories.” That’s impossible at ISPI! Equally important, ISPI’s leaders have set a tone for years that is open, encouraging, and supportive of those new to the field. Even the most senior of our leaders can be seen in casual conversation with new members, eager to teach what they know, and always glad to mentor others, as they themselves were once mentored.

That’s a winning combination, which keeps me renewing my involvement every year. The Society can do the same for you.

Rob
Rob Foshay, CPT, PhD

Rob Foshay is Director – Research for the Education Technology Group of Texas Instruments. He is a frequent speaker before ISPI and its chapters. He currently serves on the editorial boards of four research journals including Performance Improvement and Performance Improvement Quarterly, and has served on the Board of Directors of the International Society for Performance Improvement, the Chicago chapter of ISPI, and the International Board of Standards for Training, Performance and Instruction, as well as a national committee of ASQ which develops standards for training and education under the ISO 9000 system. He is a Certified Performance Technologist, and recipient of the ISPI Distinguished Service and Member for Life awards. His doctorate is from Indiana University. He may be reached through www.foshay.org.