RANKORDER ESTIMATES OF THE TIME REQUIRED FOR CROSSTRAINING AMONG 98 AIRMAN SPECIALTIES

Abstract

When data based on experience are not available, it is often possible to obtain estimates of the relative time required to crosstrain personnel qualified in one specialty to equal proficiency in a second specialty. This paper reports the first study on devising efficient methods for collecting and analyzing such estimates. A procedure was developed for collecting data to form a matrix describing the relative crosstraining-time demands for movements among a group of specialties. Rankorder estimates of the crosstraining-time requirements for the 9506 movements possible among the 98 5-level specialties were obtained from 477 Command and Staff College student officers. A computer program for hierarchical grouping was applied to these data to cluster specialties into groups such that crosstraining-time between specialties within groups is minimized. Mean crosstrainingtime estimates were computed at each stage of the clustering procedure as a criterion for evaluating the cost of reducing the number of clu ters. For illustrative purposes, the hierarchical structure at the 40-cluster stage is compared with the 40 career-field designations of the 98 specialties. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 1962
Accession Number
AD0290551

Entities

People

  • Marion E. Hook
  • Richard S. Massar

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Clustering
  • Computer Programs
  • Computers
  • Schools
  • Students

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  • Life Cycle Cost Analysis
  • Occupational Health and Safety.
  • Psychometric Testing or Psychological Assessment.