Blog Journeys of a Lifelong Learner

Efficiency is a wonderful thing. It permits more to be accomplished in less time than would otherwise be possible. It increases outputs for unchanged inputs.

The trouble with efficiency is that it does not necessarily improve the results of a process; it focuses on the speed of a process. Increasing the efficiency of an unnecessary or ineffective process will only compound the problems caused by that process. When faced with the opportunity to be more efficient or more effective, it is better to select effectiveness over efficiency.

Efficiency increases the number of units produced per factory worker; effectiveness recognizes new technology and frees factory workers to take on creative work.