Recently, I was reminded about how in the 80s, the conversation in the boardroom was often about productivity. I do think over time it has lost its significance and has dropped off the priority list.
I looked for any current articles of significance on the topic, and came across the article in Harvard Business Review – Great Companies Obsess Over Productivity, Not Efficiency; Michael Mankins – March, 2017.
I believe the author has a very valid argument suggesting a significant paradigm shift.
Thinking particularly about South Africa; I would love to see public, private and non-profit organisations putting productivity back on the boardroom agenda. What excites me is the shift away from efficiency discussions about headcount, rather to how to make each employee more productive.
In closing, I am not suggesting efficiency isn’t important – it is – but so is productivity. Both should be on the agenda.
We can start conversations in all the ‘worlds of work’ [public, private and non-profit] that look to getting people to be the most valued and appreciated component of the organisation.
For a deeper conversation on productivity please email me: john@arnesenandassociates.co.za
arnesenandassociates.co.za 