Posts Tagged ‘measure’

Effective Means to Measure, Control, Improve Employees’ Productivity

Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008

To accurately measure, control, improve employees’ productivity, there is a need to implement productivity metrics. These quantifiable figures make it easier to measure the abstract concept of productivity.

We all know how important the productivity of employees in a certain workplace is. This is because the overall success of the company greatly relies on just how productive its employees are. And this is the primary reason behind the pressing need to measure, control, and improve employees’ productivity.

Measuring, controlling, and improving the productivity of your employees is not as easy as one may think. Organizations all over the world have long been trying to come up with concrete ways to measure the productivity of employees. This is quite hard because there are so many aspects of productivity that are quite difficult to quantify in the first place. However, over the course of time, many specialists and such have come up with what are known as Productivity Metrics, to accurately measure employee productivity.

So, what exactly are these metrics? And how do they measure productivity? The main thing to remember here is that for you to measure productivity accurately, you need to know a few things first. These include the purpose of such measurement, the method to be used for such measurement, and the desired result or outcome of the resultant action that will take place after such measurement. These technical terms translate to you having to know the reason behind measuring productivity, the method to use to measure productivity, and the desired outcome or course of action that will take place to address the results of the measurement. These are the underlying concepts behind productivity metrics.

To answer the question pertaining to purpose, you need to check the goals and objectives that the organization originally put up during its very foundation. As for the method of measurement, this would then be your very own productivity metrics already. These are the quantitative figures that you will be using to quantify and measure productivity. The resultant action, on the other hand, would depend on how far the organization is from realizing corporate goals and objectives. And because these productivity metrics are crucial for the success of the organization, then they can also be aptly termed as Critical Success Factors or CSFs.

With all of these aspects defined, the next logical step would be the implementation of the metrics themselves. For the metrics to be properly implemented, you should first identify each contributing element. These are: the metric’s name, the metric description, the measurement procedure, the measurement frequency, the threshold estimation, the current threshold, the target value, and the units. The metric name and its description show what needs to be measured. The measurement procedure explains how measurement would take place here, whereas frequency pertains to how often this measurement would take place. Threshold estimation focuses on the calculation of the thresholds of measurement. The current threshold, in the meantime, is the value rage within which the measurement is considered normal for the metric being measured. The target value pertains to the best value possible for the metric, while the unit pertains to the unit used in measuring the metric.

All of these aspects are put into play as part of the means to measure, control, and improve the productivity of employees. As long as these are properly put into place, there is much promise for the accurate measurement of productivity and for the development of appropriate solutions towards the improvement of productivity here.

The Reason Why One Needs to Measure His Computer Productivity

Sunday, April 13th, 2008

It is not all the time that one is productive when using the computer. This is why one needs to measure his computer productivity, especially in the work setting.

In any type of business nowadays, the computer has definitely become quite the useful apparatus. This is the main reason why you can easily find a computer in any office setting, and even in the residential setting. And for the many people who use the computer day in and day out for activities pertaining to work, there is then a need to measure computer productivity. When you use your computer for long periods of time for certain roles and tasks to complete, there’s every chance for you to use your computer for purposes outside of your profession. When this happens, procrastination sets in, and you become less productive. This is the primary reason why one needs to measure his computer productivity. This way, you have an up and running system to remind you of the tasks and roles you originally set yourself to complete.

There are so many software applications and tools that can assist you in this endeavor. Self-examination is definitely needed when you aim to measure computer productivity. Of course, you can examine and measure computer productivity on your own by developing your very owns system. You can take down the time period it would take for you to complete certain tasks and activities, and compare span of time with those of other related tasks and activities. This would be a system that is close to satisfactory because you yourself know the tasks and responsibilities entailed in your job. You also would know what it would take to be productive in your job. However, without specific measurements and such, the system you develop just might not be “systematic” or “scientific” enough.

This can then be changed by the implementation of computer productivity measurement tools. The market is laden with such products offering all sorts of features and benefits. It is smart to get acquainted with these features so that you can see for yourself which particular application would suit your needs. All the same, here are the general features that you should look for in these applications.

Look for an application that makes use of units for its interface. When measuring productivity, it helps to know the units of the things you are measuring. Metrics should then be one of the features to look for in these software applications. Aside from metrics, you should also look for an application that comes with explanations for the computations and formulas it makes use in measuring computer productivity. This way, you can make sure that the computations and formulas employed in the system are indeed useful to your purpose. If these are not useful, then it would be better to go with an application that allows you to customize the computations and formulas being used. Your own needs would then be prioritized during the process of measuring computer productivity.

It would also help to look for an application that is user-friendly. Who would want to use an application that comes with complicated tabs and such, right? Now, to have better gauge and leverage when choosing from the many available applications, it is best to go with trial versions first. This way, you can test every feature offered by the applications, and weigh which is the best amongst them.