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The Problem The need to apply theory and research to practice has been expressed and argued for in the field of human resource development (HRD) and organization development for over two decades. The field of human resource development has sought to address this issue since the mid-2000s, yet not enough progress has been made. The Solution This article highlights some of the fundamental barriers that have led to low levels of scholar-practitioner collaboration. Successful models used by other professional organizations and publications to overcome the theory–practice gap will be presented. Their process of integrating traditional scholarship with practitioner applications are described, along with other recommendations for creating borderlands where both HRD scholars and practitioners work together to solve workplace and society problems. The Stakeholders There are many stakeholders who would benefit from and can actively participate in increasing collaborations between scholars and practitioners. These include traditional academic scholars, consultants, and professionals in businesses, government, schools, and health care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the expression of methaphor of a gap between the binaries of scholar-practitioner in human resource development that somehow requires linking. It explores the implied duality in the gap metaphor and suggests alternative to bridge the metaphor gap based on Anzaldúa's borderlands and mestiza consciousness. The author suggests that the gap metaphor provides a disservice to the HRD, which causes members of the field to analyze the binding dualities and the obstacles.