Multiskilling for the Knowledge Age

Abstract

Multiskilling has long been common on the shop floor, where one of its major advantages is the cost saving from reduced employment levels. Information professionals, though, are often reluctant to broaden their own roles. Argues that if information professionals do not do so they will be made redundant by other professionals moving into their areas or by end users taking over the role of intermediary. Some of the new Internet and intranet products really are at last becoming intuitive to use and do not need professional trainers. The knowledge worker as an internal consultant is an increasingly realistic scenario. Considers what areas can be multiskilled, the issues and problems involved in this approach and the practical aids available to multiskilling.