Optimising allocation of knowledge workers to learning measures for competence development

Competence development of knowledge workers is a primary concern at the crossroads between human resource development (HRD) and knowledge management. HRD needs to facilitate competence development for self-organised knowledge workers and to align it with organisational goals. The aim of this paper is to support decision makers in allocating knowledge management and e-learning efforts in HRD. Motivated by a case study and its identified knowledge work practices, we propose a mathematical model optimising the allocation of workers to competence development measures. The suggested model is intended to support HRD decision making. Moreover, the paper discusses challenges of the identified knowledge work practice that could not be addressed and presents suggestions for extensions of the model that may solve these additional challenges.