Job Rotation or Versatility Training

Job rotation refers to the practice of shifting people from one job to another job of the same level to make them versatile and also provide them variety of experience .Herzberg characterized this approach as merely substituting `ONE ZERO FOR ANOTHER ZERO` as it is implies horizontal or lateral transfer to a job of the same level and status.

Job rotation means lateral transfer . Horizontal rotation may take place in course of a development program whereby employee spends two or three months in one activity and in then moved on to another . versatility may also be on a situational  basis – that is , by moving a person to another activity when the first is no longer challenging to him , or to meet the needs of work scheduling .In other words , people may continue to be transferred periodically . As used by many large organisations , job rotation is also part of their progress to develop versatile & multi skilled employees .

ADVANTAGES : 

• It  is an excellent means of broadening the work experience of employees and also turning specialist into generalists .
• It reduces boredom & monotony and stimulus development of new ideas
• Since it permits greater understanding of other activities within the organisation , people are prepared more rapidly to assume greater responsibility especially at other positions .

 DISADVANTAGES :

• Job rotation increases training cost and decreases productivity due to movement of employees to new positions . adjustment on a new positions.
• It has limited impact on employee motivation and productivity at the level and status remains the same .
• It can demotivate intelligent and aggressive trainees who seek responsibility in a chosen specialty .

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