19 January 2018

Efficiency, effectiveness and efficiency: differences and calculation

team work table

Although they are often used synonymously, the terms efficiency, effectiveness and efficacy refer to different aspects and their correct differentiation and calculation helps the company to assess the performance of staff and processes and implement actions for continuous improvement.

Table of contents

Differences between efficiency, effectiveness and efficiency

To talk about a worker being efficient when they are actually effective, or to say a campaign has been effective when what we want to express is that it is successful are Common business mistakes.

Therefore, to understand the degree of the company's efficiency, effectiveness, and impact, it is important, first, know the conceptual differences What is the relationship between these three terms, the cornerstone of business productivity.

So, Efficiency means achieving the maximum planned results from minimum resources. For example, a worker who manages to generate 10 articles with half the raw material of another will be more efficient.

For its part, The concept of efficiency refers to the degree of achievement of specific objectives., meaning if the second employee can create 10 goods per hour, while the first can only create 7, they can be considered more effective, even if they are less efficient.   

Finally, effectiveness is related to the balance of these concepts of efficiency and effectiveness, defining itself as the capacity to carry out the maximum planned work with the minimum possible resources.

How is efficiency, effectiveness, and impact calculated?

Having clarified the concepts of efficiency, effectiveness, and efficacy, how are these indicators calculated? Generally, the following are used for this purpose mathematical formulas:

  • Effectiveness=(Result achieved*100)/(Expected result). The result will be a percentage that the company can comparatively value, meaning that if it falls into the lower percentiles, the work will be ineffective, and this capacity will improve as it ascends towards 100%.
  • Efficiency=((Result achieved/actual cost)*Time invested)/((Planned result/planned cost)*Planned time) . Just as with efficacy, the evaluation of efficiency is developed from a table, so that lower results will indicate poor efficiency and vice versa.
  • Effectiveness = ((Efficiency Score + Efficacy Score) / 2) / Maximum Score. The resulting percentage will reflect the degree of effectiveness of the measured action.  

What is this measurement for?

The indicators of efficiency, efficacy, and effectiveness are closely related to business performance and productivity, so their measurement allows obtain an X-ray essential for planning the organisation's strategy.

In particular, its correct calculation contributes in several aspects:  

  • To evaluate professional performance. These indicators highlight the diligence with which each employee is carrying out their duties, allowing for the design of a suitable training, promotion, or incentive plan for to empower workers to be more efficient.
  • To adjust resources and deadlines. Thanks to these formulas, information is obtained about the adequacy of costs, raw materials, and time spent, allowing these elements to be readjusted to real needs.
  • To optimally set business objectives. Upon understanding the company's true operational mechanisms, management will be able to set a more accurate roadmap for the future.  
  • To be more competitive. By adjusting all the above aspects, the organisation experiences continuous improvement, allowing it to climb the ranks within its sector.
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Edenred Spain

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