A measure of cross-training benefit versus job skill specialization

Given ever-higher labor costs, organizations should periodically assess the match of personnel skills and quantities with required duties. Consolidating similar functional specialties can improve efficiency by increasing staffing for high-demand jobs, or by identifying areas where staff may be reduced. However, such consolidation activities are often done anecdotally, and can potentially overlook successful skill pairings. We propose a model that enables an objective, repeatable skills consolidation assessment process. Our model-a cost/benefit ratio-identifies skill pairings which are likely to merge successfully, by comparing the costs of training to the benefits of increased staffing level efficiencies for these jobs. Published by Elsevier Ltd.