18 October 2005
Benchmarking Business Performance And Productivity
There are dozens of common sense measures a business can take to boost its productivity and improve performance. That’s
the clear message from a recent Chamber of Commerce on-line survey of workplace productivity.
Business people have been able to benchmark their own practices in staff management and technical capability at half day
Boost Productivity events. Michael Barnett, Chief Executive of the Auckland Chamber has been leading a team of expert
speakers at thirteen different venues throughout the Northern Region from Taupo to Northland, who have examined the
results of the survey, and discussed tips and tricks to enhance both staff and technological performance in the
workplace.
“Over 1500 small and medium sized businesses responded to the survey, so not only does that give it great integrity, but
it produced a huge number of mechanisms businesses were using to improve their own performance,” said Mr Barnett.
Of the successful businesses surveyed, nearly all indicated their bottom line benefitted from staff loyalty, the
fostering of innovation and the effective use of technology. They identified paybacks from working smarter not harder.
“People, processes and technology seem to be the three key components”, added Mr Barnett, “and good leadership was a
pre-requisite.”
In rating the areas of most importance to boosting productivity in their own business, 86% nominated “people and skills”
and 84% “leadership and management”. Other factors with high recognition were workplace culture, work processes,
performance management, innovation and technology and work – life balance. Factors, such as remuneration and capital
investment rated somewhat lower.
“It just demonstrates your prime attention must be paid to recruiting the right people, training and encouraging them,
providing leadership and good measurable processes. Then identify appropriate technology, which truly adds value and
fully utilise it” said Mr Barnett. “Small businesses are telling us they are doing this, it’s relatively simple stuff,
no more than common sense really, but essential if you want to make bad times good or good times better!”
ENDS