The world needs to improve productivity - if we are to raise living standards, feed the world and avoid water and fuel shortages. Yet, governments seem unable to do this - productivity has been at best sluggish over the last 10 years. Some governments - rightly - see a link between innovation and productivity -

GDP per hour worked is the normal way in which we measure - and compare - national productivity. This is at best a 'blunt instrument'.  There are so many factors that affect GDP besides productivity. So, when you read that, say, UK productivity is low compared to another country - take the information with 'a pinch

The productivity of Germany and France (GDP per hour worked) is strong - and almost identical ... even though Germany is normally regarded as a strong economy and France as a weak one. Perhaps the 'social models' that exist in much of European industry have some merit - and the UK might be better to

We've all seen technology completely disrupt certain industries - photographic film, film cameras, music recording, etc. Sometimes what emerges from this process of disruption is a changed but equally strong industry; but sometimes the disruption is so great and over such a long period that the former industry dies but the new one takes a

Donald Trump aims to 'make America great again' by re-patriating manufacturing and putting Americans back to work. Laudable aims - but practical? The second can't happen without the former .... but if he does succeed in bringing outsourced manufacturing back onshore, in the  short term at least, the US is likely to need more labour

Some of you will have made New year's resolutions. Well, don't make specific resolutions relating to work and productivity - unless itb is one to revert to 'first principles' and review: your mission and vision your critical success factors your key performance indicators. So, no quick fixes, magic bullets or panaceas.  Improving productivity takes thought

I make no apology for my continued focus on the UK. Any government should be looking to increase national productivity - by identifying key areas and key levers they can 'pull'. In the case of the UK, the National Health Service is such a large part of government spending, that driving efficiency here is essential.

Further to last week's comments on the new UK Productivity Council, UK Chancellor Philip Hammond used the Autumn Statement to pledge new funding for fibre broadband and 5G technologies. The £400 million investment in fibre, called the Digital Infrastructure Investment Fund, will be given to broadband providers to expand their networks, What does this do for

The UK Government is set to fund a business-led initiative designed to improve management skills and business productivity, after Chancellor Philip Hammond’s announcement within the Autumn Statement 2016. The new UK Productivity Council will help narrow the “long-standing productivity gap” between the UK and Germany, the USA, France and Italy and encourage start-ups and small

There are lots of blogs and magazine articles offering 'productivity hacks'. What impact do these have on the productivity of an organisation? Well, most of them are aimed at personal productivity.  They may help some people be marginally more efficient. But their impact on the organisation is almost non-existent since they don't address organisational systems,