Acquisition of human capital for organizational sustainability: A BASS-SIR forecasting approach

Abstract

We investigated the probabilities of acquisition of requisite human capital by new entrants in the institutional network. Graph theories applied in complex social networks using multi-attribute decision models were employed for our study. We coupled the dynamical and complexities of social network analysis with BASS-SIR epidemiological model to ascertain sustainability in the light of internal and external forces in the human capital acquisition. The results show that a new entrant’s ability to acquire human capital within the network increases rapidly and reaches a steady state by the third month. The fractional analysis indicated that a combined effect of internal and external injection of knowledge into the network sees entrants acquiring the required knowledge and work world skills in a relatively shorter time. Finally, the discrete and continuous analyses revealed that relatively even and continuous patterns of information flow reduce the time of reaching a steady state in the industry. We recommend a strong policy on continuous and even rates of training, a high rate of information flow such as internal and external training with the emphasis on internal training systems to gain competitive advantage.