ERIC Number: ED284029
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1987-Jul
Pages: 139
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Organizational Productivity Measurement: The Development and Evaluation of an Integrated Approach. Interim Report for Period January 1984--July 1986.
Pritchard, Robert D.; And Others
A new productivity measurement system was developed for five sections in maintenance and supply at an operational Air Force base. The productivity measures derived from the system were used as a basis for monthly feedback to the units for a period of five months. Afterward, goal setting was added to the feedback for five months. Finally, incentives were added to the feedback and goal setting. A field test of the new measurement system showed it to be a very effective method of measuring and enhancing productivity. The system was implemented effectively, unit personnel were cooperative in developing and using it, and it showed good psychometric characteristics. Compared with the baseline period, the feedback that was produced by the system resulted in an average productivity gain of 50 percent during feedback, 75 percent during feedback plus goal setting, and 76 during the phase in which incentives were combined with the feedback and goal setting procedures. The positive effects obtained during the field test lasted over time and continued after the research team departed. It was concluded that the system worked well because it provided a single index of productivity along with subindices, was well accepted by unit personnel, proved to be a valid measure of productivity, allowed unit personnel to focus on common objectives, and increased motivation. (MN)
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Air Force Human Resources Lab., Lackland AFB, TX. Manpower and Personnel Systems Div.
Authoring Institution: Houston Univ., TX. Dept. of Psychology.
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A