Is productivity affected by environment? One in three says yes

Management Services, Autumn 2006 by Armstrong, Melanie

I have just been reading that one in three of us thinks that working near water makes us more productive and happier overall. Well, I don't know if that's true - here at Deeson HQ, we like to pride ourselves on our throughput and the nearest stretch of water is a mile or two away. However, there's probably something to be said for working near a riverside, lake or any other place with an attractive outlook. I visit companies on a regular basis who are stuck in a the middle of stark industrial or business estates and feel very lucky to be working in the middle of the countryside with plenty of greenery and wildlife in view. What do you readers think? Do you think that productivity can be linked to the working environment? Let me know either by letter (address on page 2 of this Journal) or via email to editorial@msjournal.org.uk.

Productivity is the main theme of the Autumn edition of Management Services Journal and the implementation of lean by one medium sized American company, which was initially sceptical, makes interesting reading on page 28.

Well, I don't know if you can describe politicians as productive - certainly they should be, overlooking the River Thames as they work! However, what is being described as the 'wages of spin' hit the news this week, as it was revealed that government press officers now number 3,200 (more than three times the number than when Labour was elected in 1997) and that more than £322m of taxpayers money was spent on their wages last year. I know it's said that 'any publicity is good publicity' but I've got a feeling that a great number of these PR officers are 'clean up crew', diffusing or clearing up the disasters that constantly threaten to hit the headlines. One of the UK's much loved and historic companies, Cadbury, has been criticised this year for its bad handling of the alleged 'salmonella scare' earlier in 2006 - Ruth Shearn gives some valuable advice on PR disasters and how to avoid them on page 46 of this edition.

I hope you enjoy this issue of MSJ and look foward to hearing any comments you may have.

Melanie Armstrong