[johnward]

This is why I have a problem with the term "career development" in general. My career will never revolve around any one company. It sounds more like it's employee development for the benefit of the company not the employee's career.

[LucasCollecchia]

Well, you're probably right. There's a conflict of interest with respect to developing an employee's career from the perspective of the employee and the firm. Both want what's best for themselves.

One of the big concepts in negotiation theory, has been the rise of interest harmonization, wherein parties attempt to figure out how to make their dealings with others create shared interests. If successful these efforts might make career development efforts live up to their name.