Office Efficiency, Effectiveness, and Productivity

Abstract

Integrated office systems can have a positive impact on efficiency, effectiveness, and productivity in the office. However, to determine the desired impact, design the correspondingly appropriate system, and evaluate its effects, it is necessary to have a clear understanding of these concepts. Put briefly, office systems can impact the following:

• (1) Efficiency. Systems can (a) reduce inputs into the office such as costs of labor, materials, services, etc., or (b) result in greater output (with the same or less input) such as more sales, contracts negotiated, accounts processed, etc.

• (2) Internal Efficiency. Systems can reduce the inputs which are internal to the office. Examples are less time spent scheduling, filing, waiting for work, looking for information, filling out forms, etc.

• (3) Effectiveness. Systems can improve the quality of the products of office work. Examples are improved service to customers, better management reports, more effective products, more revenue, etc.

• (4) Productivity. Systems can improve the overall ratio between input and output in the office, by improving the quantity or quality of the products of office work using, in general, the same or less input resources.

The vendor tells us that we’ve doubled our productivity because we doubled the number of memos and reports we can generate in a week. Somehow it just doesn’t feel right… (Anon)