Just Do It

Some folk make new year resolutions.

For many, its the same ones every year ... the things they know they ought to do, but don't want to.

Business can be like that. There are things we know we should do to improve our productivity ... but something (we always have an excuse) stops us.  The time is not right, we have other priorities, it will disrupt production, and so on.

Well, for a change, this year ... think what you ought to do .. and put some time in your diary to actually do it ... or allocate the project to someone you know will deliver.

You know it makes sense!

The Model Employee?

Over the next 24 hours, millions of presents will be distributed to children around the globe by one man and a team of reindeer (admittedly with some help from elves in the supply chain).

Can we find out this man's productivity secrets ... and harness them in other areas?

Attractive productivity?

A recent research study of golfers on the US women's tour suggests 'attractive' golfers get lower scores and more prize money ... and suggests that this phenomenon of a 'beauty premium' is not uncommon in other sectors.

It also suggests that if an attractive female employee is better rewarded per unit of production than her less attractive co-workers, she might increase her productivity.

Does anyone have evidence of this phenomenon in practice?

Get the right things right

Lifting productivity and driving export growth is the focus of the (New Zealand) National Party's primary sector policy, says Agriculture spokesman David Carter.

"A key plank is increased water storage and irrigation, and National recently announced that it will provide up to $400 million from the Future Investment Fund to support the construction of well-designed irrigation schemes.

"Water is one of New Zealand's greatest competitive advantages, but we are not making the most of it. Developing water storage and irrigation has huge potential to unlock economic growth and prosperity for the primary sectors, and for all New Zealanders."

Who needs productivity?

Governments - especially European governments - are concentrating on climbing out of the pit of the financial crisis. All that is on their mind is quantitative easing (printing money), interest rates and debt reduction.

All this is necessary ... but not sufficient.  In the longer-term, the only solution to the problem is increased productivity.  But governments don't have time.  They are fighting the fire, not refilling the extinguisher.