Job Rotation as a Learning Mechanism

Posted: 15 Nov 2001

See all articles by Jaime Ortega

Jaime Ortega

Universidad Carlos III de Madrid

Abstract

This article analyzes the costs and benefits of job rotation as a mechanism with which the firm can learn about the employees' productivities and the profitability of different jobs or activities. I compare job rotation to an assignment policy where employees specialize in one job along their career. The gains from adopting a job rotation policy are larger when there is more prior uncertainty about employees and activities. I argue that this firm learning theory fits the existing evidence on rotation better than alternative explanations based on employee motivation and employee learning.

Keywords: Job rotation, learning

JEL Classification: J2, J4

Suggested Citation

Ortega, Jaime, Job Rotation as a Learning Mechanism. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=284961

Jaime Ortega (Contact Author)

Universidad Carlos III de Madrid ( email )

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HOME PAGE: http://www.uc3m.es/uc3m/dpto/EMP/profesor/iortega.htm

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