Productivity concepts apply to service settings as well as manufacturing. For example, in the health care industry, increasing productivity is a possible means to control rising medical costs. It is also a means of increasing retention.

Required:

1. Go to http://www.findarticles.com, and search for articles on productivity using “Productivity Accounting” as the search phrase (or you can try your own search phrase relating to productivity). Find three articles that relate to productivity of services, where at least one is in the health care industry. Read these articles, and provide a brief summary of their content. Now, answer the following questions:

a. Did any of the articles mention partial productivity measures?

b. If so, were the measures operational or financial?

c. Was there any mention of total productivity measurement? If not, speculate on the reasons why.

d. What was the purpose of productivity measurement?

2. Now, do a search at the FindArticles site using “Productivity Plus Award.” Answer the following questions:

a. What is the purpose of the award?

b. Describe two companies that have received the award, and provide a brief summary of why they received it.