Dealing well with Cross Training

Dealing well with Cross Training

Introduction

Cross training is training an employee to do a different part of the organization's work:

Training worker A to do the task that worker B does and training B to do A's task is cross training.

Dealing well with Cross Training

Important

When dealing with Cross Training it is important to highlight that:

It is against human nature to remain static, performing the same duties day in, day out, without expectations of change in routine or opportunities for advancement.

Dealing well with Cross Training

Main Aspects

Cross training is good for companies, because it provides more flexibility in managing the workforce to get the job done. However, done right, cross training is good for the employees too. It lets them learn new skills, makes them more valuable, and can combat worker boredom.

Dealing well with Cross Training

Cross Training Main Types

Job Enlargement
(Horizontal Expansion) The addition of tasks that are on the same level of skill and responsibility.

Job Enrichment
(Vertical Expansion) The addition of tasks that give the employee more control or more responsibility.

Dealing well with Cross Training

Benefits - Employee, Department and Employer

Employee

Employer

Department

Dealing well with Cross Training

Benefits Employee
It allows an employee to develop new relationships, increasing his professional network. It shows that an employee is hardworking, dedicated and someone who is willing to do what it takes to get the job done. It can improve the employee interdepartment respect due to a deeper understanding of how the business works and demands.

Dealing well with Cross Training

Benefits - Department
A cross-trained workforce can increase comradeship and promote teamwork within the organization. Department members can recognize the overall goals and operations of each different department and misunderstandings can be reduced. Cross training creates a team of workers who are more knowledgeable with more confidence regarding their professional expertise.

Dealing well with Cross Training

Benefits - Employer
It helps employers to cut costs and expenses, improving the workflow between departments. Erases differences and unhealthy competition, improving company overall motivation Leads to the sharing of organizational goals and objectives. It provides a built-in temporary workforce when an employee is absent.

Dealing well with Cross Training

Main Downsides
Cross training can be stressful for employees especially if they are consistently performing two or more job duties at the same time. It can add unrewarded responsibilities on the shoulders of company employees, resulting in a feeling of exploitation. When a company allows employees to know about all the aspects of its business, they might become important assets and targets for unethical competitors.

Dealing well with Cross Training

Cross Training Implementation
Carefully select the employees to be cross trained:
Some people like to learn new things but some not.

It should be carefully planned and presented as a learning and career opportunity. When planning cross-training consider payroll costs, acceptance and cooperation by all department. Custom-tailor the cross-training to the needs of each individual and the organization.

Dealing well with Cross Training

Conclusion

Cross training should be one of the strategies to be always implemented inside a company. And it is an effective training technique which results in motivation, career development and better workflow.

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Our References

We would like to thank the following writers for their expressive contribution for this presentation:
F. John Reh, http://management.about.com/cs/people/a/crosstrain.htm Melvin Richardson, http://voices.yahoo.com/benefitscross-training-corporate-training-3094423.html?cat=3 Marilyn Holt, CMC, CEO, http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/tips/archives/20 07/04/cross-training.html Claire Belilos, http://www.easytraining.com/crosstrain.htm

Dealing well with Cross Training

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