19 January 2018

Efficiency, effectiveness and efficiency: differences and calculation

team work table

Table of contents

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.

Differences between efficiency, effectiveness and efficiency

To say that a worker is efficient when in fact he or she is effective or to say that a campaign has been effective when what we want to say is that it is effective is to say that the campaign has been efficient when what we want to say is that it is effective. common business mistakes.

Therefore, in order to know the degree of efficiency, effectiveness and efficiency of the company it is important, first of all, to know how efficient, effective and efficient the company is, know the conceptual differences between these three terms, a cornerstone of business productivity.

Thus, Efficiency means achieving maximum expected results from minimum resources. For example, a worker who manages to produce 10 items with half as much raw material as another worker will be more efficient.

For its part, the concept of effectiveness refers to the extent to which certain objectives are achieved, If the second employee manages to create 10 goods every hour, while the first only 7, he/she can be considered more effective, even if less efficient.   

Finally, effectiveness is related to the balance of these two factors. concepts of efficiency and effectiveness, defined as the ability to carry out the maximum planned work with the least possible resources.

How are efficiency, effectiveness and efficiency calculated?

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

  • Effectiveness=(Result achieved*100)/(Expected result). The result will be a percentage that the company will be able to benchmark, i.e. if it is in the lower percentiles the work will be ineffective, improving this capability as it moves up towards 100%.
  • Efficiency=((Result achieved/actual cost)*Time invested)/((Planned result/planned cost)*Planned time) . As in the case of effectiveness, the assessment of efficiency is developed from a table, so that lower results will indicate low efficiency and vice versa.
  • Effectiveness=((Efficiency score+Effectiveness score)/2)/(Maximum score). The resulting percentage will reflect the degree of effectiveness of the measured action.  

What is this measurement for?

Indicators of efficiency, effectiveness and efficiency are closely related to business performance and productivity, so measuring them allows to obtain an essential X-ray to plan the organisation's strategy.

In particular, their correct calculation contributes to several aspects:  

  • To evaluate professional performance. These indicators reveal the diligence with which each employee is carrying out his or her duties, allowing a training, promotion or incentive plan to be designed accordingly. making workers more efficient.
  • To adjust resources and deadlines. These formulas provide information on the adequacy of costs, raw materials and time used, allowing these elements to be readjusted to real needs.
  • To set business objectives in an optimal way. By knowing the true functioning of the company, managers 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 a continuous improvement that allows it to climb up the ranks within its sector.
banner-ticket-restaurant-cta
Edenred Spain

Related publications

two companions eating together

How to foster valuable connections between your teams?

a happy woman opening a present

Edenred Gift: why is it the perfect basket for your teams?

A GROUP OF YOUNG BOYS SITTING IN THE UNDERGROUND LAUGHING AND TALKING

Sustainable mobility: a pillar for CSR