Mick Silver

Potential productivity: Concepts and application

This paper is concerned with the meaning and measurement of potential productivity. Potential productivity is the difference between the actual and most efficient (optimal) productivity level. A number of concepts of potential productivity are outlined and their managerial implications discussed. Measures based on operating and lost time, peak output levels, estimating a capacity production function and work study (percentage utilisation of labour) are compared for the envelope-making division of a UK manufacturing company.

A framework for productivity analysis at the organisational level: Method and an applied case

Abstract This paper outlines a framework for productivity analysis which enables both partial and total input productivities to be identified in terms of money values and their real (volume) and unit value (terms-of-trade) components. Attention is given to the specification of the production relationship, index number issues and aggregation problems. The framework is applied to a British manufacturing company, some further methodology issues being considered and the results presented.