Optimal multiple stage expansion of competence set

In this paper, we consider the expansion processes of competence sets which have asymmetric cost functions, intermediate skills, and compound skills; among the skills, cyclic connections are possible. We introduce the concept of the stage expansion process (SEP) of the competence set, and provide mathematical programming methods to ®nd a minimal cost SEP and the ordering of expansion. Ó 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.