Job Swapping Is the Latest Application of Job Rotation

Job swapping can take place both externally, when people from different firms swap jobs, and internally, when employees within one company exchange jobs.

External Job Swapping Nadim Hossain, vice president of marketing at San Francisco-based PowerReviews, went to a recent meeting in which he met with a marketing team and provided input on a proposed ad. Interestingly, he did not for his employer. Fortune magazine reported on what he was up to: "He traded roles for the day with Jon Miller, VP of marketing and co-founder of San Mateo, California, software firm Marketo, hoping to gain some insight into his own role by experiencing someone else's." This experiment is an example of an external job swap. Both individuals felt they benefited from the experience. Hossain said he got many ideas about how to motivate his sales team, and Miller left with a better idea of the challenges faced by chief marketing officers.⁸⁰

Another swap exchanged Rick Gill, a medical doctor, and Kevin Stephens, a farmer. The program was initiated by the Pike County, Alabama,Chamber of Page 188Commerce to help citizens appreciate the impact of different jobs on the county's well-being. Dr. Gill spent a day on a farm, doing work that included picking cotton. Stephens' time at the doctor's office included removing staples from an incision and completing other small medical tasks. Both individuals raved about the experience and noted that it increased their appreciation for someone else's job. This type of swap has taken place each year since 1986.⁸¹

Internal Job Swapping Terri Lodwick, president of All American Window and Door Co. in Germantown, Wisconsin, began the company's job swap program in 2001. Her reason? "We wanted to give everybody a hands-on view of each others' job duties, [so they could gain] a greater appreciation and understanding of each team member. We also wanted to strengthen our customer service and take [our company] to the next level of excellence," she said.

All Lodwick's employees ultimately swap jobs for up to 40 hours per year. A typical swap lasts four hours, and employees are encouraged to swap with people across all company departments. The company attempts to make the process meaningful and practical by having employees do a short questionnaire after each swap. Sample questions include: "What did you learn/observe today? What suggestions do you have for the process you observed?"

Lodwick noted that the program led to increased productivity, teamwork, and customer service. It also was a prime contributor to the company's receipt of several business awards.⁸²

YOUR THOUGHTS?

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