Title: Workforce skill-enhancement policies in manpower systems: modelling, analysis, and structural control

Authors: Kannan Nilakantan

Addresses: Mathematical Modelling Group, IMT-Nagpur, 35th Milestone, Katol Road, Nagpur, 440001, India

Abstract: This paper takes up the mathematical modelling of some recent skill-enhancement policies adopted in organisations for enhancing the skill levels of their employees using Markov modelling techniques. Three such policies or scenarios that organisations encounter or adopt are examined, viz.: 1) regular training of employees; 2) institution of 'time-bound promotions' in their lowermost echelons with a view to attract the best talent from the market; 3) adoption of 'periodic' policies to better adapt to seasonality and cyclic variations in their business requirements. These policies are mathematically modelled and their long-term behaviour and effect on the system structure are derived. A control analysis of the system structure under the influence of these policies is also presented. And concomitantly, it is found that 'proportionality-based recruitment control' policies show promise as a tool for structural control when such policies are in force.

Keywords: skill-enhancement policies; time-bound promotions; regular training policies; periodic policies; proportionality-based recruitment control; Markov manpower systems.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMOR.2024.141476

International Journal of Mathematics in Operational Research, 2024 Vol.29 No.1, pp.109 - 143

Received: 30 Mar 2023
Accepted: 02 Apr 2023
Published online: 16 Sep 2024 *

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