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By |January 9th, 2016|Categories: Productivity|

Many of us work, at least for some of the time, from, home. Yet, many of us find it hard to be fully productive. For people whose work involves a lot of home working, it

Remember your values

By |January 2nd, 2016|Categories: Productivity|

This  is the first blog post of the new year.  It should perhaps therefore have a strong message of positivity for that new year.  But that new year, for you, will be what you make

Does technology improve productivity?

By |December 19th, 2015|Categories: Productivity|

Does technology help or hinder productivity & performance?   There are two basic schools of thought on this issues – though, as ever, these are not straightforward The first is that the introduction of technology can

Back from the city

By |December 12th, 2015|Categories: Productivity|

All developing countries go through a stage of urbanisation - as people leave the countryside and flock to the cities in pursuit of a share of the wealth that cities create. This generally results in

Safety or Productivity?

By |December 5th, 2015|Categories: Productivity|

There seems to be, in some people's eyes, a dichotomy between safety and productivity.  The former is regarded as a compliance issue - a chore, a headache, an imposition - a drain on productivity. Of

Austerity or ….?

By |November 28th, 2015|Categories: Productivity|

In the UK, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has signalled a kind of U-turn by scrapping his plans to cut tax credits and offering more money for the health service, for defence and for the

What a way to run Christmas?

By |November 21st, 2015|Categories: Productivity|

Saturday 12th December has been dubbed “Out of Stock Saturday” by logistics analysts Clear Returns, as it will be the day when the largest number of UK retailers’ stock will be tied up in the

Help those who help themselves

By |November 14th, 2015|Categories: Productivity|

The title of this post is one of those things our parents taught us when we were kids. It was suggested that we should prioritise our support towards those who were already attempting their own

We all need help

By |November 7th, 2015|Categories: Productivity|

Do you read the wise words of the business gurus, the management thought leaders? No, me neither. Of course these guys (for they usually are guys) must have done something right to get to where

SME productivity growth

By |October 31st, 2015|Categories: Productivity|

The third Albion Growth Report, designed to shed light on the factors that both create and impede growth among over 1,000 UK SMEs, highlights significant regional differences in tackling the productivity gap: 54 per cent of business owners in

Big Data saves the world??

By |October 24th, 2015|Categories: Productivity|

The World Productivity Congress is proving to be very interesting. Just before the event I read an article by Robert Gordon about the state of US productivity, the gist of which was that the major

Listening … and learning

By |October 17th, 2015|Categories: Productivity|

I am in Halifax (Nova Scotia) for the World Productivity Congress (being held in partnership with the Big Data Conference). This gives me 2 (well, at least 2) opportunities. Firstly, I can meet up with

Core strategy or nice to have?

By |October 10th, 2015|Categories: Productivity|

The World Confederation of Productivity Science promotes the concept of SEE - Social, Environmental & Economic Productivities - suggesting that long-term business sustainability and success  comes from  addressing all three.  Some have claimed that this

Double benefts

By |September 26th, 2015|Categories: Productivity|

Japan has a new government initiative to boost the adoption of intelligent machines and robots - as part of a drive to improve industrial productivity.  However, this has other benefits as well. Mechanised workplaces are

If Music Be …

By |September 19th, 2015|Categories: Productivity|

Companies have long used music to set rhythm for production lines - and to boost morale of employees.  Now a new study by the University of Illinois confirms that people do respond - positively in

Structure

By |September 12th, 2015|Categories: Productivity|

On the Internet, you get lots of tips about productivity - and what are called ' productivity hacks' (really just more tips). However you and I know that what brings about higher productivity is structure

Hope I’m wrong!

By |August 29th, 2015|Categories: Productivity|

The Taiwan government is planning to spend NT$36 billion (US$1.12 billon) over the next nine years as part of its Productivity 4.0 project to elevate Taiwan's status in the global supply chain, Taiwan president Ma

Choices

By |August 22nd, 2015|Categories: Productivity|

All companies have limited funds to invest in new projects. (Well, perhaps Apple has all the money it needs.) And this inevitably means that those companies have to prioritise certain projects over others. Unfortunately too

Start investing

By |August 15th, 2015|Categories: Productivity|

Businesses seem to be unwilling to invest in new facilities and even new skills for their employees. I think part of the reason is that investors have become used to the rollercoaster of the tech

What about Google and Yahoo?

By |August 8th, 2015|Categories: Productivity|

Last week I talked about the problem of national productivity measurement when we fail to count lots of 'intangibles. Musing further, I got to thinking  about companies like Google and Yahoo who give away many

Are you wasting your time?

By |March 7th, 2015|Categories: Productivity|

In a recent paper, the governor of the Central Bank of Barbados said that even though Barbados is relatively prosperous as a Caribbean nation, it will only move up the international 'league table' by improving

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