Welcome to Amanda’s semi-regular blog, where she writes about how to improve business profitability
Productivity isn’t about production
When I work with organisations, I frequently identify key areas that are having a detrimental impact on productivity, and it is rarely on the production line.
Productivity growth requires change management
Learning shouldn’t stop when we leave formal education
When did you last change your tools?
If we want a lesson in how to effect a step change in productivity we only need to look at the evolution of crop cutting.
Measuring productivity
Productivity measurement is one of the most important factors in the success of a business. It is vital, and sadly very few people know how to do it.
The impact of lethargy on our economy
In order to increase our productivity we need to understand lethargy
The relationship between productivity and capacity
Understanding the relationship between capacity and capability is crucial to maximising productivity.
Are you pouring money down the drain?
We wouldn’t pour money down the drain, however, when it is disguised as staff time, we often do it without realising it.
We underestimate the Knock-on effect
During the last fuel strike, many fuel stations had to close completely as their pumps were completely dry. When they ran out of fuel, they had no footfall into their stores and so they were unable to sell any of their ancillary products, milk, coffee, confectionery and so on. This is a great example where having one item out of stock can result in zero sales of a range of others.
It’s out of stock
In a recent survey, 48% of retailers cited frequent out-of-stock situations as one of their most significant challenges.
Opportunities for post-pandemic retail
There have been significant changes in consumer expectations, largely as a result of the pandemic.
Write process not a manifesto
I’m reading Neurodiversity at Work[i] at present, a recent publication by Amanda Kirby and Theo Smith. In it they say: We also need to ensure that diversity and inclusion is a part of all our processes and not a policy that is written and then stuck in a drawer.
I would argue that all too often processes are written and then stuck in a folder/drawer and never communicated, followed or implemented…
Why are we so afraid of difference?
I recently engaged in the services of a virtual assistant. I had two really great candidates to choose from in the final lineup, and quite honestly could have engaged either one of them. In order to make a decision, I decided to pick the one that was least like me. Whilst it’s often tempting to recruit people like us, from a business and productivity point of view, recruiting for difference is often the smarter move.
Have you outgrown your current software?
If software had a sell-by date I’m sure that UK productivity would be far higher than it has been since 2008.
We’re rubbish at defining problems
Most of us are pretty rubbish at defining problems. We spend so much time in our heads ruminating the problem we shut down our ability to think expansively about it.
2/3 of your forecast is generally missing
Trying to run a business with just a revenue and expenditure forecast, is like trying to do a jigsaw with only a 1/3 of the pieces.
Spreadsheets are not a panacea
My husband thinks that Excel can be used for anything, from planning a project to producing a technical drawing – yes really!
