Measuring and Improving Productivity in Services

Measuring and Improving Productivity in Services

Author: Faridah Djellal

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

Published: 2009-01-01

Total Pages: 261

ISBN-13: 1848444966

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The question of how to measure and improve productivity in services has been a recurrent topic in political debates and in academic studies for several decades. The concept of productivity, which was developed initially for industrial and agricultural economies poses few difficulties when applied to standardized products. The advent of the service economy contributed to call into question, if not the relevance of this concept, at least its definition and measurement methods. This book takes stock of the issues met by productivity in services on theoretical, methodological and operational levels. The authors examine various definitions of productivity and the main methods of its measurement. A survey of recent conceptual and methodological debates on the notion of productivity is also presented. A more operational and strategic perspective is then adopted in order to identify and analyze the main levers, factors and determinants for improving productivity and, more generally, the actual strategies adopted for this purpose in firms and organisations. Providing a deep understanding of the specific and underestimated performance processes within service industries, this book will be of great interest to those involved in industrial economics, management science and public administration.


Book Synopsis Measuring and Improving Productivity in Services by : Faridah Djellal

Download or read book Measuring and Improving Productivity in Services written by Faridah Djellal and published by Edward Elgar Publishing. This book was released on 2009-01-01 with total page 261 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The question of how to measure and improve productivity in services has been a recurrent topic in political debates and in academic studies for several decades. The concept of productivity, which was developed initially for industrial and agricultural economies poses few difficulties when applied to standardized products. The advent of the service economy contributed to call into question, if not the relevance of this concept, at least its definition and measurement methods. This book takes stock of the issues met by productivity in services on theoretical, methodological and operational levels. The authors examine various definitions of productivity and the main methods of its measurement. A survey of recent conceptual and methodological debates on the notion of productivity is also presented. A more operational and strategic perspective is then adopted in order to identify and analyze the main levers, factors and determinants for improving productivity and, more generally, the actual strategies adopted for this purpose in firms and organisations. Providing a deep understanding of the specific and underestimated performance processes within service industries, this book will be of great interest to those involved in industrial economics, management science and public administration.


Productivity in Human Services

Productivity in Human Services

Author:

Publisher:

Published: 1980

Total Pages: 36

ISBN-13:

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Download or read book Productivity in Human Services written by and published by . This book was released on 1980 with total page 36 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:


Measuring and Enhancing Productivity in the Federal Sector

Measuring and Enhancing Productivity in the Federal Sector

Author: United States Civil Service Commission

Publisher:

Published: 1972

Total Pages: 158

ISBN-13:

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Book Synopsis Measuring and Enhancing Productivity in the Federal Sector by : United States Civil Service Commission

Download or read book Measuring and Enhancing Productivity in the Federal Sector written by United States Civil Service Commission and published by . This book was released on 1972 with total page 158 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:


Handbook for Productivity Measurement and Improvement

Handbook for Productivity Measurement and Improvement

Author: Christopher W. Head

Publisher: Productivity Press

Published: 1993-01-01

Total Pages: 1344

ISBN-13: 9781563270079

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With its comprehensive scope and easy-to-read format, this compendium belongs in every company and academic institution concerned with business and industrial viability. Featuring scores of contributions covering the most advanced methods for the measurement and improvement of quality and productivity, no other reference can compete. Throughout 100 chapters, front-runners in the quality movement reveal the evolving theory and specific practices of world-class organizations. Spanning a wide variety of industries and business sectors, this handbook includes insightful discussions on quality and productivity in manufacturing, service industries, profit centers, administration, nonprofit and government institutions, health care and education. Topics include— Benchmarking The best way to implement an activity-based cost-management system Ten rules for building a measurement system Process simplification through cycle-time reduction Strategies for measuring and improving white-collar productivity Sharing the productivity payoff—gain sharing primer


Book Synopsis Handbook for Productivity Measurement and Improvement by : Christopher W. Head

Download or read book Handbook for Productivity Measurement and Improvement written by Christopher W. Head and published by Productivity Press. This book was released on 1993-01-01 with total page 1344 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: With its comprehensive scope and easy-to-read format, this compendium belongs in every company and academic institution concerned with business and industrial viability. Featuring scores of contributions covering the most advanced methods for the measurement and improvement of quality and productivity, no other reference can compete. Throughout 100 chapters, front-runners in the quality movement reveal the evolving theory and specific practices of world-class organizations. Spanning a wide variety of industries and business sectors, this handbook includes insightful discussions on quality and productivity in manufacturing, service industries, profit centers, administration, nonprofit and government institutions, health care and education. Topics include— Benchmarking The best way to implement an activity-based cost-management system Ten rules for building a measurement system Process simplification through cycle-time reduction Strategies for measuring and improving white-collar productivity Sharing the productivity payoff—gain sharing primer


Measuring and Improving Organizational Productivity

Measuring and Improving Organizational Productivity

Author: Robert Pritchard

Publisher: Praeger

Published: 1990-11-26

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 0275936686

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Productivity has become a national priority. Its effects are being felt on all levels--national, industrial, and individual. An organization must be able to measure productivity before effectively improving it. This volume is the first practical guide for developing productivity measurement systems. It describes the use of the Productivity Measurement and Enhancement System (ProMES) designed by its author and his colleagues. An important tool for organizations, this step by step guide discusses how to measure productivity and then how to use this measurement. Robert Pritchard's guide first presents a detailed description of the development and uses of ProMES. The background and description of ProMES is followed by details on how to develop ProMES in any organization. Questions and answers about using the system are discussed together with further issues on how to implement the system. The use of the system with other productivity improvement techniques is also covered. The volume concludes with a discussion on evaluating the effects of a productivity improvement system. It is a valuable practical source for industrial and organizational psychologists, management consultants, classes, and workshops.


Book Synopsis Measuring and Improving Organizational Productivity by : Robert Pritchard

Download or read book Measuring and Improving Organizational Productivity written by Robert Pritchard and published by Praeger. This book was released on 1990-11-26 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Productivity has become a national priority. Its effects are being felt on all levels--national, industrial, and individual. An organization must be able to measure productivity before effectively improving it. This volume is the first practical guide for developing productivity measurement systems. It describes the use of the Productivity Measurement and Enhancement System (ProMES) designed by its author and his colleagues. An important tool for organizations, this step by step guide discusses how to measure productivity and then how to use this measurement. Robert Pritchard's guide first presents a detailed description of the development and uses of ProMES. The background and description of ProMES is followed by details on how to develop ProMES in any organization. Questions and answers about using the system are discussed together with further issues on how to implement the system. The use of the system with other productivity improvement techniques is also covered. The volume concludes with a discussion on evaluating the effects of a productivity improvement system. It is a valuable practical source for industrial and organizational psychologists, management consultants, classes, and workshops.


Rethinking Productivity in Software Engineering

Rethinking Productivity in Software Engineering

Author: Caitlin Sadowski

Publisher: Apress

Published: 2019-05-07

Total Pages: 306

ISBN-13: 1484242211

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Get the most out of this foundational reference and improve the productivity of your software teams. This open access book collects the wisdom of the 2017 "Dagstuhl" seminar on productivity in software engineering, a meeting of community leaders, who came together with the goal of rethinking traditional definitions and measures of productivity. The results of their work, Rethinking Productivity in Software Engineering, includes chapters covering definitions and core concepts related to productivity, guidelines for measuring productivity in specific contexts, best practices and pitfalls, and theories and open questions on productivity. You'll benefit from the many short chapters, each offering a focused discussion on one aspect of productivity in software engineering. Readers in many fields and industries will benefit from their collected work. Developers wanting to improve their personal productivity, will learn effective strategies for overcoming common issues that interfere with progress. Organizations thinking about building internal programs for measuring productivity of programmers and teams will learn best practices from industry and researchers in measuring productivity. And researchers can leverage the conceptual frameworks and rich body of literature in the book to effectively pursue new research directions. What You'll LearnReview the definitions and dimensions of software productivity See how time management is having the opposite of the intended effect Develop valuable dashboards Understand the impact of sensors on productivity Avoid software development waste Work with human-centered methods to measure productivity Look at the intersection of neuroscience and productivity Manage interruptions and context-switching Who Book Is For Industry developers and those responsible for seminar-style courses that include a segment on software developer productivity. Chapters are written for a generalist audience, without excessive use of technical terminology.


Book Synopsis Rethinking Productivity in Software Engineering by : Caitlin Sadowski

Download or read book Rethinking Productivity in Software Engineering written by Caitlin Sadowski and published by Apress. This book was released on 2019-05-07 with total page 306 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Get the most out of this foundational reference and improve the productivity of your software teams. This open access book collects the wisdom of the 2017 "Dagstuhl" seminar on productivity in software engineering, a meeting of community leaders, who came together with the goal of rethinking traditional definitions and measures of productivity. The results of their work, Rethinking Productivity in Software Engineering, includes chapters covering definitions and core concepts related to productivity, guidelines for measuring productivity in specific contexts, best practices and pitfalls, and theories and open questions on productivity. You'll benefit from the many short chapters, each offering a focused discussion on one aspect of productivity in software engineering. Readers in many fields and industries will benefit from their collected work. Developers wanting to improve their personal productivity, will learn effective strategies for overcoming common issues that interfere with progress. Organizations thinking about building internal programs for measuring productivity of programmers and teams will learn best practices from industry and researchers in measuring productivity. And researchers can leverage the conceptual frameworks and rich body of literature in the book to effectively pursue new research directions. What You'll LearnReview the definitions and dimensions of software productivity See how time management is having the opposite of the intended effect Develop valuable dashboards Understand the impact of sensors on productivity Avoid software development waste Work with human-centered methods to measure productivity Look at the intersection of neuroscience and productivity Manage interruptions and context-switching Who Book Is For Industry developers and those responsible for seminar-style courses that include a segment on software developer productivity. Chapters are written for a generalist audience, without excessive use of technical terminology.


Improving Measurement of Productivity in Higher Education

Improving Measurement of Productivity in Higher Education

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2013-01-18

Total Pages: 197

ISBN-13: 0309257743

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Higher education is a linchpin of the American economy and society: teaching and research at colleges and universities contribute significantly to the nation's economic activity, both directly and through their impact on future growth; federal and state governments support teaching and research with billions of taxpayers' dollars; and individuals, communities, and the nation gain from the learning and innovation that occur in higher education. In the current environment of increasing tuition and shrinking public funds, a sense of urgency has emerged to better track the performance of colleges and universities in the hope that their costs can be contained without compromising quality or accessibility. Improving Measurement of Productivity in Higher Education presents an analytically well-defined concept of productivity in higher education and recommends empirically valid and operationally practical guidelines for measuring it. In addition to its obvious policy and research value, improved measures of productivity may generate insights that potentially lead to enhanced departmental, institutional, or system educational processes. Improving Measurement of Productivity in Higher Education constructs valid productivity measures to supplement the body of information used to guide resource allocation decisions at the system, state, and national levels and to assist policymakers who must assess investments in higher education against other compelling demands on scarce resources. By portraying the productive process in detail, this report will allow stakeholders to better understand the complexities of-and potential approaches to-measuring institution, system and national-level performance in higher education.


Book Synopsis Improving Measurement of Productivity in Higher Education by : National Research Council

Download or read book Improving Measurement of Productivity in Higher Education written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2013-01-18 with total page 197 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Higher education is a linchpin of the American economy and society: teaching and research at colleges and universities contribute significantly to the nation's economic activity, both directly and through their impact on future growth; federal and state governments support teaching and research with billions of taxpayers' dollars; and individuals, communities, and the nation gain from the learning and innovation that occur in higher education. In the current environment of increasing tuition and shrinking public funds, a sense of urgency has emerged to better track the performance of colleges and universities in the hope that their costs can be contained without compromising quality or accessibility. Improving Measurement of Productivity in Higher Education presents an analytically well-defined concept of productivity in higher education and recommends empirically valid and operationally practical guidelines for measuring it. In addition to its obvious policy and research value, improved measures of productivity may generate insights that potentially lead to enhanced departmental, institutional, or system educational processes. Improving Measurement of Productivity in Higher Education constructs valid productivity measures to supplement the body of information used to guide resource allocation decisions at the system, state, and national levels and to assist policymakers who must assess investments in higher education against other compelling demands on scarce resources. By portraying the productive process in detail, this report will allow stakeholders to better understand the complexities of-and potential approaches to-measuring institution, system and national-level performance in higher education.


Productivity Measurement and Improvement

Productivity Measurement and Improvement

Author: Robert Pritchard

Publisher: Praeger

Published: 1995-04-25

Total Pages: 412

ISBN-13:

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Improving organizational productivity is an important current and future issue. The improvement can be effected by changing technology, or by changing the way in which people work. The concern of this work is how to structure work so that people can and will want to maximize their productivity using a special approach to measurement and improvement of organizational productivity defined by the author - ProMES (Productivity Measurement and Enchancement System). ProMES is a way of motivating people to maximize their productivity. This book describes a series of cases where ProMES was applied to improve productivity in service and manufacturing organizations in a variety of different organizations in different countries. Results indicate very large increases in productivity, much larger than those typically found. Lessons learned from these cases for future productivity improvement efforts are summarized.


Book Synopsis Productivity Measurement and Improvement by : Robert Pritchard

Download or read book Productivity Measurement and Improvement written by Robert Pritchard and published by Praeger. This book was released on 1995-04-25 with total page 412 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Improving organizational productivity is an important current and future issue. The improvement can be effected by changing technology, or by changing the way in which people work. The concern of this work is how to structure work so that people can and will want to maximize their productivity using a special approach to measurement and improvement of organizational productivity defined by the author - ProMES (Productivity Measurement and Enchancement System). ProMES is a way of motivating people to maximize their productivity. This book describes a series of cases where ProMES was applied to improve productivity in service and manufacturing organizations in a variety of different organizations in different countries. Results indicate very large increases in productivity, much larger than those typically found. Lessons learned from these cases for future productivity improvement efforts are summarized.


Evidence-Based Productivity Improvement

Evidence-Based Productivity Improvement

Author: Robert D. Pritchard

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2012-05-04

Total Pages: 318

ISBN-13: 1136587772

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This new book explains the Productivity Measurement and Enhancement system (ProMES) and how it meets the criteria for an optimal measurement and feedback system. It summarizes all the research that has been done on productivity, mentioning other measurement systems, and gives detailed information on how to implement this one in organizations. This book will be of interest to behavioral science researchers and professionals who wish to learn more about the practical methods of measuring and improving organizational productivity.


Book Synopsis Evidence-Based Productivity Improvement by : Robert D. Pritchard

Download or read book Evidence-Based Productivity Improvement written by Robert D. Pritchard and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2012-05-04 with total page 318 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This new book explains the Productivity Measurement and Enhancement system (ProMES) and how it meets the criteria for an optimal measurement and feedback system. It summarizes all the research that has been done on productivity, mentioning other measurement systems, and gives detailed information on how to implement this one in organizations. This book will be of interest to behavioral science researchers and professionals who wish to learn more about the practical methods of measuring and improving organizational productivity.


Technology in Services

Technology in Services

Author: National Academy of Engineering

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 1988-02-01

Total Pages: 256

ISBN-13: 0309038952

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Beginning by dispelling some of the myths about services, this provocative volume examines the growth in services, the way technology has shaped this growth, and the consequences for the American economy. Chapters discuss such topics as the effects of technology on employment patterns and wages, international trade in services, and the relationship between services and the traditional manufacturing industries.


Book Synopsis Technology in Services by : National Academy of Engineering

Download or read book Technology in Services written by National Academy of Engineering and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 1988-02-01 with total page 256 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Beginning by dispelling some of the myths about services, this provocative volume examines the growth in services, the way technology has shaped this growth, and the consequences for the American economy. Chapters discuss such topics as the effects of technology on employment patterns and wages, international trade in services, and the relationship between services and the traditional manufacturing industries.