Optimization of Conventional Bench through Skill Index Based Virtual Bench Approach

Abstract

In any Information Technology (IT) service organization up to 70 success of project is based upon the utilization factor of knowledge and experience of its niche technical staff. In IT organization, staff who does not have project on hand are moved to a reserve pool called ‘bench’. Bench period of each benched employee varies from a few days to a couple of months. Bench period is non billable. Longer the bench period, greater is the threat to profitability of company. Longer bench period also results in staff attrition. Very short bench period encounters feeble staff availability which becomes peril towards organization’s growth. Non filtering of niche employees from others and improper system to judge skills, uncertainty in job allocation date and uncertain bench duration for benched employees are creating employee dissatisfaction and staff attrition. Present IT industry requires a system which can optimize existing conventional bench and address the problems of bench effectively. Catering to the above stated requirement, this paper presents a new approach called ”skill index based Virtual Bench”, which addresses the conventional bench issues effectively. Staff index adaptively measures the knowledge and skills of staff and niche employees can be filtered. The approach has been validated through a case study in a medium size IT organization. Results are highly responsive towards the aim of approach. It can be concluded that virtual bench approach is viable to be implemented.