Cost-Effective Automation of Army Classroom Training: A Case Study

摘要

This report uses the Equipment Records and Parts Specialist (76C10) Course to present a method for planning cost-effective automation of Army classroom training. Average costs per trained soldier were collected. Because almost all costs in this course vary with the length of time for training, cost-effective automation is described as more efficient use of classroom time. The analysis includes a description of current Army policy as it lowers the cost of future computer applications by equipping classrooms with computers for hands-on simulation of automated job tasks. Classroom cost and productivity curves are defined, hour by hour, during lock-step instruction and then combined to define marginal cost per trained soldier. Classroom costs are calculated from existing budgetary data, but productivity is empirically measured. The analysis estimates cost savings if instructional software can shorten training time and illustrates how classroom productivity curves can be used to target computer applications with greatest impact on training time and cost. Keywords: Training effectiveness; Computer-based instructions; Training cost; Cost effectiveness; Training productivity; Automated instruction; Hands-on training. (SDW)