Three of the more dominant orientations in the productivity field

It is helpful to consider three of the more dominant orientations in the productivity field. These include the perspectives of the economist, the industrial engineer, and the practicing manager.

The general orientation of economists with a macro-viewpoint is societal. They tend to deal with such macro-issues as national growth, competitiveness on the world market, rising wages, and deteriorating gains in real income. Economists usually emphasize the need for getting more from present resources in the society, and define productivity precisely as the ratio of outputs to inputs with some consideration for output quality assumed or stated.

Industrial engineers usually focus on the organizational throughput, and have a high concern for workflow, equipment, measurement, and control. Usually the expressed need is for increased efficiency through the manipulation, measurement, and control of the throughput process. Their definition is usually the same precise statement of output over input, with some assumed or stated consideration for quality level.

Administrators have a managerial orientation. They live in a fast-paced, environment. They do not lie awake at night worrying about the nation's competitive edge in the world market nor do they exclusively focus upon workflow, equipment, control, and measurement. Rather, they feel the need to improve the over-all performance of the organization, and give their attention to the specific problems at hand. These may range from the current budget to motivating an unenthusiastic subordinate. The most important difference; however at least as far as productivity is concerned is that administrators do not use a precise, input/output, definition of productivity. For them productivity is usually an ambiguous, shifting concept centered on the over-all performance or functioning of the organization. Administrators may use it one way at one time and another way at another time.
 

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Within the context of formal performance appraisal requirements, rating means evaluating employee or group performance against the elements and standards in an employee's performance plan and assigning a summary rating of record. The rating of record is assigned according to procedures included in the organization's appraisal program. It is based on work performed during an entire appraisal period.