I read a report recently which suggested that the workforce in Pakistan lacks both appropriate skills and the work ethic needed to significantly improve productivity.
(This is not of course exclusive to Pakistan – it is true of a quiet a few places – or even industrial sectors.)
The report then simply moved on to look at possible measures to improve skills and create a work ethic.
The former is relatively easy, assuming we know or can identify the skills gaps – those skills that are ,missing.
Creating a work ethic is much more difficult and it is often part of an overarching national culture – snd needs to be embedded from a very young age.
However the report did not suggest that there is a correlation – in fact more of a strong causation – between skills and work ethic.
My belief is that workers who are treated well and have regular skills updates – increasing their potential contribution to the organisation and their marketability to other employers – are more likely to take a positive approach to their work. This means that a work ethic has been created.
So, addressing one key factor can have an effect on another. The two (or sometimes even three o more) factors go hand in hand – there is a symbiotic relationship between them.
If you can identify such relationships linking other factors, you have in effect a short cut to productivity improvement.