Ongoing

Managers are principally responsible to their employing organisation – they must try to get the most out of its limited resources – they must try to minimise the costly resources they use, including labour i.e. they must minimise employment

On the other hand, government ministers are responsible for all a nation’s resources, especially its people – they must try to maximise employment – it’s a vote-winner too

This conflict of priorities was splendidly illustrated by Adam Smith with his example of productivity at a pin factory and the macro retort from Bertrand Russell ‘in praise of idleness’

An aide memoire for busy businessmen, mostly land bound, who yearn ‘to go down to the seas again’

‘Productivity Knowhow’ – the basic knowhow managers need for big productivity improvements

‘Productivity Postbag’ – a selection of views on productivity matters from business heavyweights

‘Productivity Quotes’ – over 1,000 quotes from the ‘great and good’, some amusing, some controversial