Effective Techniques for Measuring Productivity and Ensuring Progress

A measure of the ratio between input and output for a company or an individual is productivity. It grows with the increase in output. But, here is the catch- a productivity tool cannot measure the cost of resources or revenue. It is just a measurement of how efficiently the work is done. For example, if one of your team members takes 6 hours to finish a task and another member finishes the same task in 5 hours, the other employee is more productive. 

Measuring productivity plays a vital role in ensuring consistent improvement and development. Project managers and entrepreneurs can make insightful decisions and make a roadmap based on regular evaluations. HR managers want to measure the employee’s productivity to analyze their performance and measure efficiency. Here the question arises- how can we measure productivity effectively? 

Let’s dig deep into the key strategies or techniques for measuring productivity. You can use them along with a feature-rich productivity tool and improve the productivity measuring. But, before moving to these strategies, we will go through the importance of measuring productivity at the workplace. 

Importance of Measuring Productivity

When we know the ins and outs of work progress, along with its strengths and weaknesses, we can improve efficiency. Once project managers identify the shortcomings or loopholes of the process, they can easily work on different tactics to fix those issues. They can also consider the positive points and implement them in the future projects. 

HR managers can easily keep track of employees’ progress over time with the help of productivity measurement. It also enables HR people to introduce training programs or workshops for enhancing the skill set and assists them in recruitment. It is fair to mention that productivity measurement is useful for the betterment of employees and improving the performance of the company. PMs can easily enhance the performance of their teams through measuring productivity with productivity tool. 

Here are some of the simple yet effective techniques to measure productivity in your workplace. 

Effective Strategies for Productivity Measurement

1. 360-Degree Feedback 

This is a full circle of feedback. It calculates the productivity of your team members through feedback given by other team members. Though it looks like a daunting and time-consuming task, it is more effective than other strategies. 

In this strategy, the seniors and juniors of a team member evaluate the working efficiency and give feedback keeping the relevant aspects in mind. It is necessary for employees to understand their roles and responsibilities thoroughly to implement the 360-degree feedback strategy effectively. Also, they should know the expectations of the role. Based on these expectations, peers can evaluate the ability of a particular team member and give their feedback.   

Here, regular interaction with one another and engagement in an integrated work environment is essential to utilize this strategy. All the employees get training before initiating this strategy so that they can give unbiased and neutral feedback for their colleagues. Honest feedback can not only assist PMs but also benefit individuals. It is possible to focus on strengths and weaknesses while improving efficiency through this method. As the name suggests, the 360-degree feedback strategy is beneficial for the organization in a 360-degree circle. 

2. Daily Check-In

This is a straightforward strategy for measuring productivity at the workplace. Here, the focus mainly remains on task completion rather than output. Usually, project managers use this strategy for accomplishing multiple projects on time. Employees provide updates on their tasks and progress daily to show that they are on track and what they have achieved so far in the given projects. 

Here a question arises, how can an employee measure productivity at work and keep the top management updated about the progress? The answer to this question depends on the PM’s strategy and the organization’s policy. Some useful ways include-

• Email-based updates
• Email timesheets or task schedule
• Using a conference call or through a phone call

The daily check-in method works for employees who face difficulties to stay on track or need constant evaluations for desired performance. This method is also useful for project managers who want to stay updated about the overall progress of their team members and their overall performance.  

3. Input and Output

It is the easiest and most popular formula for measuring productivity at the workplace. It is also the most efficient way of number crushing and getting actual data as output. Let’s dig deep into the input-output formula. 

As per this simple productivity formula, you need to identify the output to be measured in terms of the number of tasks accomplished or the number of finished products. The next step is to choose the input. It can be the number of hours used for making the product or completing the project. It can also include the cost of raw materials. 

Finally, on taking the ratio of input over output, we can get the final result. This figure can be converted into local currency and calculate the non-productivity ratio for the final report. 

This formula is mostly useful for industries or factories where both input and output can be directly measured in terms of finished goods or completed tasks. Though this formula is simple and straightforward, it is not applicable for complex projects and layered structures. The reason is simple- the input and output formula does not consider factors other than time and cost. But, industries can use this method along with other productivity metrics to get accurate results. 

Other strategies include time tracking and time management, which is based on time sheets. 

Tips to Improve Productivity

Here it is fair to mention that merely knowing how to measure productivity at work does not bring optimum results. It is necessary to develop the resulting strategies for improving productivity. After identifying the pros and cons of the management and knowing the strengths and weaknesses of employees, entrepreneurs can come up with the right strategies to improve overall productivity. 

Here are some of the strategies employers can employ to enhance productivity. 

• Set SMART and achievable tasks
• Prioritize tasks and make a roadmap
• Track progress regularly and guide your teams
• Keep focus on complex and complicated tasks
• Stay updated with the employee’s expectations
• Arrange training sessions and avoid distractions
• Improve working environment and motivate employees

These small but significant tips will assist entrepreneurs to improve productivity at the workplace.