A CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF OPTIONS FOR

PRODUCTIVITY IMPROVEMENT

PREAMBLEThe issue of productivity Improvement is central to discussions of development globallyand nationally; yet, the term productivity means different things to different people.

CONT.As a phenomenon it ranges from efficiency to effectiveness; to ratesof turn over and absenteeism; to output measures of client or customer

CONT.satisfaction; to intangibles such as disruption of wok flow; and to further intangibles such as loyaltyand job satisfaction.To put it bluntly the definition of productivity is complex and this is because it is both a technical and managerial concept.

CONT.In an increasingly competitiveworld economy, the importance of productivity improvement in the workplace has become even morefundamental

What then is Productivity?The least controversial definition of productivity is that it is a quantitative and qualitative relationship between output and input. This definition enjoys general acceptability because of two related considerations.

CONT.One, the definition suggests what productivity is thought to be in the context of an enterprise, industry or an economy as a whole.Two, regardless of the type of activityin an economic or political system this definition remains the same as

CONT.long as the basic concept is the relationship between quantity and quality of goods and services produced and the quantity of resources used to produce them. Indeed, productivity is more of the end result of a complex social process involving science,research, analysis, training, technology,management, trade union, and labour among other inter-related influences.

Misconceptions About Productivity.Some common misconceptions exist about productivity. Such include: Productivity is only labour productivity or labour efficiency. Productivity is the same as increase in output or performance. Confusing productivity with efficiency of effectiveness.

PRODUCTIVITY IMPROVEMENTProductivity improvement is not just doing things better: more importantly, it is doing the right things better at the right time.The productivity process is a complex, adaptive on-going social system.

CONT.The inter-relationships between labour, capital and socio-organisational environment are important in the way they are balanced and co-ordinated into an integrated whole.

CONT.Productivity improvement depends on how successfully we identify and use the main factors of the socio-production system.

Improving productivity requires that the factors that influence productivitybe properly understood and analyzed. The factors that affect productivityinclude: Internal factors (controllable) External factors (not controllable)

Internal factors:A.Hard factors (not easily changed) Products and ServicesTechnologyMaterials and Energy

B.Soft factorsPeopleOrganisation and SystemsWork MethodsManagement Style

External factors:A.Structural Adjustments or ChangesEconomicSocialDemographicB.Natural ResourcesManpowerLandEnergyRaw materials

CONT.C.Government and InfrastructurePoliciesLawsRegulationsInstitutional Practices

OPTIONS AND STRATEGIES FOR PRODUCTIVITY IMPROVEMENTSound productivity options and strategies call for a systemic approach to productivity improvement which recognizes the inter-relationship between the elements of the system andtheir environment. It defines the performance of the system and Maintains equilibrium while effectingchange.

Options: Develop improvement policies and plans Review and rethink the entire operating system Develop participatory management decision -making Reduce in bureaucratic procedures and mechanisms Job restructuring Evolve democratic method of planning and controlling

Minimize conflicts Embark on continuous training and education Introduce Social security schemes Incorporate effective incentive schemes Develop paradigms of productivity improvement Development of management information systems Set standard performance

CONCLUSIONImproving productivity will seem difficult at the initial stage of it development, but will become established when it is pragmatically pursue with a full understanding of the organisational dynamics in relation to the internal and external components of productivity.

CONT.Option abound but a tactful approach to improving productivitywill create the required environment for long term productivity and sustenance.

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