Productivity Blog

ViaDaily Chronicle, Illinois By DANA HERRA – dherra@daily-chronicle.com Bert Hueber may use an ultrasound machine for his job, but he doesn’t work for a hospital or a medical clinic. Hueber is a partner in Beef Performance Technology, and takes the ultrasound machine and the “heavy-duty laptop” connected to it to cattle operations around the area. He isn’t looking for medical information: The ultrasounds let him “see” the quality of beef … Continue reading →

THE UN-COMFORT ZONEwith Robert Wilson The Most Powerful Motivator I was abruptly awakened and told, “The house is on fire. Go outside!” As I ran out of my bedroom and into the hall my socks slipped on the polished oak floor. A guiding hand helped me keep my footing and a frantic voice urged, “Hurry! Hurry!” As I got to the door I looked over my shoulder and saw flames … Continue reading →

Viathonline.com Deere earnings surge on farm boom Sales in construction division, including Dubuque factory, continue to sag By EILEEN MOZINSKI TH staff writer A strong agricultural market continues to drive growth at Deere &Co., even as unstable economic conditions pound some of the heavy equipment maker’s divisions. Deere posted record third-quarter earnings Wednesday showing growth companywide but a slowdown in the construction and forestry division, which includes John Deere Dubuque … Continue reading →

ViaBusiness Week Profits are healthier and job losses fewer than in previous downturns. The reason:Businesses’ swift responseto falling demand is making productivity unusually strong by James Cooper The productivity revolution of the late 1990s changed forever the way U.S. businesses operate. Driven by technology and overseas competition, companies radically altered how they manage purchasing policies, inventories, production processes, and, perhaps most important, labor. The U.S. workforce has become much more … Continue reading →

ViaCommodityOnline, India Integrated nutrient management a key to productivity By Dr Mangala Rai Fertilizer is the mainstay of food production in the country; hence its judicious use is the need of the hour. The integrated nutrient management is a panacea for sound soil health, higher farm productivity and profitability. Accordingly, our Government has taken historical decisions on nutrient-based pricing and subsidy, meeting additional cost of fortification/ coating of fertilizers, payment … Continue reading →

ViaNY Times WASHINGTON (AP) — The efficiency of America’s workers grew at a slightly slower pace in the spring as companies sought to produce more with leaner work forces. Workers’ compensation growth also slowed. The Labor Department reported Friday that productivity — the amount an employee produces for every hour on the job — grew at an annual rate of 2.2 percent in the quarter. That was down from a … Continue reading →

By Dana Borowka, MA, CEO of Lighthouse Consulting Services, LLC “Watch your words: they become your thoughts.Watch your thoughts: they become your actions.Watch your actions: they become your habits.Watch your habits: they become your destiny.”– Frank Outlaw Personality tests not only help when hiring, they just might be a manager’s best tool to connect with employees. You can manage the hard way or the easy way, the choice is up … Continue reading →

Via NY Times Shifting CareersBy MARCI ALBOHER As the founding editor and lead blogger for Lifehacker, the popular site that offers “tech tricks, tips and downloads for getting things done,” Gina Trapani has become a go-to source for people who have become overwhelmed by the demands and complexities of modern technology. Ms. Trapani, who is also a computer programmer, is the author of “Upgrade Your Life” (Wiley, 2008), a wide-ranging … Continue reading →

What’s Pushing Your Buttons? By ROBERT WILSON What motivates you? That’s the question I’d like to ask in this inaugural column on motivation. Are you motivated by fame, fortune or fear. Or is it something deeper that fans the flames inside of you. Perhaps you are like Jeanne Louise Calment whose burning desire enabled her to do something that no other human being has done before. A feat so spectacular … Continue reading →

ViaNY Times By PAUL B. BROWN Just about all entrepreneurs grapple with the issue of having people work untraditional hours at some point in their company’s life. And with all the talk about shifting to a four-day work week, to reduce the amount of gasoline used by employees in commuting, it is a good time to review the basics. As the National Workplace Flexibility Project, developed by the federal Department … Continue reading →