Training and development professionals play a unique role in helping people improve their performance by using all aspects of the work environment to make those improvements occur. These professions are currently debating the existence of an integrated theoretical framework and how it might support practice in their field. Human performance technology (HPT) has been proposed as a systems-based field of study for training and development. The goal of the HPT field is to use systems approaches to ensure that individuals have the knowledge, skills, motivation, and environmental supports required to do their jobs effectively and efficiently. The conceptual domain of HPT is defined by management, development, and systems functions. In terms of professional preparation, academic programs for training and development should be based on a set of core competencies and a unique theoretical base such as human performance technology. Jacobs has listed 11 propositions from the study of HPT. The following are among those propositions: human performance and behavior are different and knowledge of the difference is important for achieving goals in HPT; organizational as well as individual goals must be considered in defining worthy performance; and exemplary performance provides the most logical referent for determining job performance standards. (MN)