What makes a given process or situation more productive is often a set of factors, some of which are relatively simple and others complex and perhaps hidden.
Assume you work for a forestry company. How do you make the forests owned or managed b y the company more productive?
You might think of trying different fertilisers, irrigation regimes, pollarding/thinning techniques and so on.
However, without significant expertise and experience in forest management, you would be very unlikely to know – or even suspect, that more complex forests have higher productivity (or rates of photosynthesis).
Yet,, researchers are finding that the arrangement of trees affects photosynthesis . In particular, a variety of tree heights – known as high vertical heterogeneity – affects how trees use water to create biomass – and be more productive
In other areas, similar surprising factors emerge – so any technical productivity initiative needs a mixed team – pf productivity experts/facilitators working with subject experts – to identify and develop the hidden factors.
I have always said that the main ‘tool’ of the productivity facilitator, is the ability to ask questions. Having a technical expert as part of the team means be useful in getting original answers. Certainly it is always useful to get others thinking about problems – the more minds you have focused on a problem , the more likely a solution becomes.