Critical Literature Review of Labor Multiskilling in Construction

Abstract

Research in multiskilling experiences an incremental trend from academic, industrial, and governmental point of views. Different methodologies have been used in previous research to identify best practices in multiskilling. A comprehensive and critical review of the literature creates in-depth insight into the dynamics of multiskilling in different settings. Accordingly, the aim of this literature review was twofold. First, it set out to present appropriate classifications to illustrate the ramifications of crosstraining in order to help create a better understanding of this concept. Second, it aimed to identify research gaps that can be the focus of future research. A two-stage paper screening methodology was used to collect relevant papers. This study classified papers from the early introduction of multiskilling in the construction industry until the present and categorized crosstraining based on configuration, strategy, collateral effects, context, and mainstream research. The main contribution of this study is to identify theoretical gaps in crosstraining research and to discuss the interaction and dependency between different studies. Furthermore, it paves the way for comprehensive studies to produce more realistic knowledge that considers both technical and managerial details.