A group learning curve model with and without worker turnover
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the paper is to develop a mathematical model that describes group learning processes with and without worker turnover.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on an extensive literature review, fundamental characteristics of group learning processes are first identified and then incorporated into a group learning curve (GLC). The developed GLC is then validated by fitting to empirical data.
Findings
The results show that the behaviour of the developed model is in conformance with the characteristics identified in the literature. A comparison with two other learning curves that have frequently been discussed in the literature shows that the GLC developed in this paper is a good mathematical representation of group learning processes.
Practical implications
The model developed in this paper enables practitioners to predict performance improvement in groups.
Originality/value
The paper is one of the first to propose a mathematical formulation of a GLC.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Christoph H. Glock wishes to thank the in-kind support provided to him, as a visiting researcher, by Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada, and the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada for their partial financial support. This work was further supported by a fellowship within the Postdoc-Programme of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). M. Y. Jaber thanks NSERC for supporting his research.
Citation
H. Glock, C. and Y. Jaber, M. (2014), "A group learning curve model with and without worker turnover", Journal of Modelling in Management, Vol. 9 No. 2, pp. 179-199. https://doi.org/10.1108/JM2-05-2013-0018
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2014, Emerald Group Publishing Limited