These three papers are from a symposium on new perspectives in human resource development (HRD). "Developing an Instrument to Measure the Use of Play-Based Training Methods in Healthcare Education" (Rebecca J. Adams, Karen E. Watkins, Tom Valentine) reports preliminary findings from a pilot study that tested data collection procedures and the instrument's adequacy. It describes use of a survey of healthcare educators to establish reliability and validity and the development of emerging norms for each scale. "HRD and Economic Development: A Mega Level Research Agenda" (Suhail S. Zidan) presents an initial conceptual framework for a research agenda at the mega (societal) level with particular emphasis on the role of the state and the multinational enterprise in the national economic development process in developing countries. "Improving Technical Training: The Effectiveness of Technical Subject Matter Experts as Trainers" (Saundra Wall Williams) reports on a study to determine if subject matter experts (SMEs) who deliver technical training perceive that they possess the required level of proficiency for the instructor/facilitator competencies. It finds three variables that are germane to trainer effectiveness---experience, formal education, and professional preparation--and that not all of the indicated variables do not have a perceived impact on trainer effectiveness. (YLB)