ABSTRACTThis article briefly reviews the literature on Management Development (MD) and summarizes key results of an exploratory survey of HRD professionals' perceptions about MD practices. Based on the survey's results, the authors conclude that organizations sponsoring planned MD programs: (1) Make an effort to base MD on Strategic Business Plans and individual development plans more than on succession plans; (2) Cite in‐house classroom courses tailor‐made for management employees as the single most frequently used MD method; (3) Cite planned on‐the‐job training as the single most effective MD method; and (4) Rely heavily on written individual development plans for assessing the learning needs of management em