The Application of Job Rotation in End User Computing

Abstract

End user computing refers to the development of computer applications by the people who have direct need for them (Brancheau & Brown, 1993). Such development of applications by end users is common in most organizations and can generate a number of management issues. Indeed, the major problems in end user computing (EUC) today tend to be of a managerial nature (e.g., ensuring the appropriate application of technology to business needs, and the training of end user support personnel) rather than of a technical nature. An examination of the management literature reveals a human resource practice that has been shown to successfully address issues similar to those currently being faced in the EUC environment. Job rotation, a human resource mechanism that facilitates continuous learning in the workplace, is a method that can help to address major issues in end user computing and, as a result, help to increase the value of end user computing in an organization. This paper begins with an overview of job rotation and its benefits, then relates those benefits to major issues that currently exist in end user computing. Job rotation between EUC support staffs and end user areas is proposed as a way to achieve several EUC benefits. Problems associated with the implementation of job rotations are used to identify critical success factors for this type of rotation. The resulting model provides a basis for future research and guidance for organizations seeking to implement such rotations.