Productivity in the age of changing technology

Productivity is getting the best out of men and equipment and is a condition for our economic survival. Productivity has therefore been assigned a predominant role in the economic growth in the Seventh Plan. Improvement in productivity in public enterprises assumes great significance since huge amounts of public money is invested and these enterprises have been called upon to generate internal resources of Rs. 35,000 crores during the Seventh Plan.

There is an imperative need to create a productivity conscious ness among all the employees of public sector enterprises. This can be achieved by high degree of employees' morale and motivation, satisfactory industrial relations, good inter-personal relations among employees, infusing team spirit, positive work culture and congenial environment, employees' involvement in decision-making process, efficient systems and procedures, properly laid-out welfare and personnel policies, upgrading employees skill, efficient and up-to-date manufacturing technology, and above all management commitment for improving productivity.
The Prime Minister's pronouncement "Improvement in Productivity, absorption of modern technology and fullest utilisation of capacity must acquire the status of a national compaign," should be followed by the management of public enterprises to work in this direction with all their mite.
The management of public enterprises should in consultation with workers representatives lay down precise productivity objectives in terms of quantity and quality for a year or so and then they should make all out efforts to achieve these objectives. For this the management should enlist the willing support of managers, supervisors and employees at all levels. The public enterprises can then hope to achieve the uphill task of generating internal resources not only for their growth and development but also to contribute their share in improving the national economy.