When giving talks to people about productivity, I often express my amazement - and my worry - that governments spend a lot of time working on the wrong things. For example, in the UK at the current time, Brexit has been dominating the time of Parliament and the Cabinet. Brexit is important- but it doesn't

I read a piece the other day on the use of productivity measures for academic staff. The measures were all about output quantity (presumably with the proviso that papers wouldn’t be published if they didn’t meet quality criteria). However what matters is not quantity of output or quality of output but the impact of that

This week is The Open Golf Championship - what Americans like to call the British Open but is is THE Open. The Open obviously has the best golfers in the world - and as with most majors recently tends to be won by an American golfer. This leads you to believe that American golfers are

I am quite used to seeing strange suggestions for improving personal productivity - often tied to an app someone is trying to sell me.  But the one I saw the other day 'takes the biscuit'. It is based on the fact that some people think they are more productive working from a coffee shop rather

Does technology improve productivity? Silly question, isn't it? Well no. If you could monitor what your staff are 'working' on all the time, you would find that many book holidays, contact their medical practitioner, look for theatre schedules - and so on ... all in your time. They work more productively on task perhaps but

Most of us believe that technology has a good track record in improving productivity. But there have been many promised futures that did not come about.  Think 'the paperless office' for one.  This was first mooted back in the 1960s and every decade or so, someone promotes the concept again (normally scanner manufacturers). Well, mindful

I think it was Mark Twain who one said that eating a live frog early every morning means you know the worst is behind you and you can get on with your day with confidence.  (Literary quotes are often difficult to attribute ... most of them have allegedly been said by Oscar Wilde or George

We have seen lots of talk over the last few years by various governments about the need for more sustainable development - and less dependence on fossil fuels. Yet, the rise in the use of fossil fuels goes on - along with the associated pollution and environmental damage. If most businesses over-promised and under-delivered to

All nations want to increase their productivity.  This makes them more competitive, brings rewards for citizens and allows society to develop. The problem is that no-one is quite sure how it can be achieved. There seem to be as many solutions (or strategies) as there are nations. Is there a simple answer? No!  It is

Several years ago, Peter Drucker noted that if most organisations increased their productivity by 10% it would double their profits.   At that time, 10% seemed achievable.  Now, firms are lucky to achieve 5% - and nations feel good if they move into positive figures. What has changed? Not a lot, actually - but firms seem