Lifting 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 generally more suitable for female workers and for workers with disabilities - so improving automation supports greater workforce diversity .. and that provides another route to greater productivity.

If Music Be ....

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 productivity terms - to music.

They suggest however that instrumentals are best - words can  interfere with language "tasks" which are part of the work.

Similarly,  music is more effective if it has a constant, easy beat and a light melody.

A report in the journal Neuroscience of Behavior and Physiology states that the Russian Academy of Sciences found that a person's ability to recognize visual images, letters and numbers, is much faster when either rock or classical music is playing in the background.

So - play on!

Structures

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 - to organisations, systems, processes, working methods - structure based on an analysis of need and then an identification of how that need can be best met.  This can take time - but it will be rewarded and will be much more effective than trying to apply the latest 'hack'.

Think about building a building. You need form foundations and sound construction. Productivity is similar. Take the time to structure the 'edifice' soundly.

Climate Change and Crop Design

Is climate change happening? Yes.

Is it man's fault - down to greenhouse 'emissions'? Possibly,

It does not matter what the cause is - we have to accept it is happening.

There are  lots of implications - some of them potentially catastrophic.

Some parts of the world that are currently the world's bread (or fruit) baskets may end up with much lower yields unless they can introduce new varieties of the crops they produce.

So, we might need genetic engineering to maintain yields in areas of changing climate.

Can man's ingenuity and innovation beat climate change?

We have to hope so.