Dear Seniors,
Many times I have found it difficult to grasp the differences between these concepts. Efficiency is commonly understood as 'doing the job rightly' and effectiveness as 'doing the right job.'
My understanding is - An efficient person need not be an effective performer always. If so, my question is "Can an effective person always be an efficient one?"
Can you please clear this doubt for me?
Regards, Shijit.
From India, Kochi
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125Many times I have found it difficult to grasp the differences between these concepts. Efficiency is commonly understood as 'doing the job rightly' and effectiveness as 'doing the right job.'
My understanding is - An efficient person need not be an effective performer always. If so, my question is "Can an effective person always be an efficient one?"
Can you please clear this doubt for me?
Regards, Shijit.
From India, Kochi
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Corrected Text:
Effective people always are efficient. However, efficient persons may not always be effective. The reason is that effectiveness is the end result of efficient input. Efficiency alone does not always yield favorable results.
Badlu
From Saudi Arabia
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Effective people always are efficient. However, efficient persons may not always be effective. The reason is that effectiveness is the end result of efficient input. Efficiency alone does not always yield favorable results.
Badlu
From Saudi Arabia
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Hi Shijit,
The clarification is in your quote itself. "Efficient & Effective" is like "Ability & Performance." Please pen down your opinion on this.
Thanks.
Regards, Suresh M
Dear Seniors,
Many times I have found it difficult to grasp the differences between these concepts. Efficiency is commonly understood as 'doing the job rightly' and effectiveness as 'doing the right job.'
My understanding is - An efficient person need not be an effective performer always. If so, my question is, "Can an effective person always be an efficient one?"
Can you please clear this doubt for me?
Regards, Shijit.
From India, Madras
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The clarification is in your quote itself. "Efficient & Effective" is like "Ability & Performance." Please pen down your opinion on this.
Thanks.
Regards, Suresh M
Dear Seniors,
Many times I have found it difficult to grasp the differences between these concepts. Efficiency is commonly understood as 'doing the job rightly' and effectiveness as 'doing the right job.'
My understanding is - An efficient person need not be an effective performer always. If so, my question is, "Can an effective person always be an efficient one?"
Can you please clear this doubt for me?
Regards, Shijit.
From India, Madras
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Hi,
Efficient- doing a job with out wate of money and efforts.- more accurate.
Effective- producing intented result- May not as accurate as the efficient person.
If a company wants hire courier vendor… and it appoints two vendors.. Now one vendor delivers 80% of letters in 2 days and another delivers in 100% in 10 days then obviously first one is effective that does not mean the second one is not efficient.
If you want in actually H R term … efficient person will be perfectionist and efficient will be productive. Now it depends on job for eg. Pilot or a finance person has to be efficient but a sales person has to be effective.
I hope you will get it. Keep raising such doubts it force us to go through dictionary and make our fundamental strong..
Aparna Sethi
From India, Salai
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Efficient- doing a job with out wate of money and efforts.- more accurate.
Effective- producing intented result- May not as accurate as the efficient person.
If a company wants hire courier vendor… and it appoints two vendors.. Now one vendor delivers 80% of letters in 2 days and another delivers in 100% in 10 days then obviously first one is effective that does not mean the second one is not efficient.
If you want in actually H R term … efficient person will be perfectionist and efficient will be productive. Now it depends on job for eg. Pilot or a finance person has to be efficient but a sales person has to be effective.
I hope you will get it. Keep raising such doubts it force us to go through dictionary and make our fundamental strong..
Aparna Sethi
From India, Salai
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To be precise, if I ask you to move an object from one place to another, the efficiency of how you move it would be important. Let's say you have the skill set to do it, but the time you take and the amount of resources you use to move it would determine how effective you are in achieving the desired results.
Please correct me if I am mistaken.
From India, New Delhi
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Please correct me if I am mistaken.
From India, New Delhi
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Dear Shijit,
Efficiency is when we do what we know. But effectiveness is when we should do what should be rightly done. It is about getting the expected result. Anything may happen with efficiency, but only effectiveness will bring the expected result. Effectiveness involves very systematic planning, analysis, implementation, and evaluation.
Regards,
L.Justin Sagayaraj
aimjustin@rediffmail.com
From India, Madurai
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Efficiency is when we do what we know. But effectiveness is when we should do what should be rightly done. It is about getting the expected result. Anything may happen with efficiency, but only effectiveness will bring the expected result. Effectiveness involves very systematic planning, analysis, implementation, and evaluation.
Regards,
L.Justin Sagayaraj
aimjustin@rediffmail.com
From India, Madurai
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Efficiency is about efforts in completing the assignment in stipulated time and resources. Effectiveness is about the consequences of the efforts on the assignment. Rakesh
From India, Hisar
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From India, Hisar
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Rightly said, such clarifications are indications that the person is growing up. A science student understands efficiency as a ratio of OUTPUT / INPUT (the / sign indicates division). Viz. The ratio of the energy delivered by a machine to the energy supplied for its operation, or the work done by an HR professional compared to the salary received. Effectiveness, on the other hand, is associated with the ratio of the effective or useful output to the total input in any system.
However, the difference is: Does it actually make an effect? (HR fellow has trained, but do the participants pass or get motivated?) The difference lies in producing a definite or desired result; being efficient, operative, active; actual, not merely potential or theoretical; making a striking impression, being impressive.
Hope it helps. Thank you.
Prof. Priyavrat Thareja Head, Met Engg Deptt Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh 160012
From India, Haridwar
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However, the difference is: Does it actually make an effect? (HR fellow has trained, but do the participants pass or get motivated?) The difference lies in producing a definite or desired result; being efficient, operative, active; actual, not merely potential or theoretical; making a striking impression, being impressive.
Hope it helps. Thank you.
Prof. Priyavrat Thareja Head, Met Engg Deptt Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh 160012
From India, Haridwar
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Friends,
I understand all that is said above. But...
Can an inefficient person be effective? For example, how would we clarify a situation where an uneducated technician comes up with smart technical solutions faster than the formally trained, educated so-called efficient technicians? In some cases, can't effectiveness come out without efficiency?
From India, Kochi
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I understand all that is said above. But...
Can an inefficient person be effective? For example, how would we clarify a situation where an uneducated technician comes up with smart technical solutions faster than the formally trained, educated so-called efficient technicians? In some cases, can't effectiveness come out without efficiency?
From India, Kochi
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Friends,
I understand all that is said above. But, can an inefficient person be effective? For example, how would we clarify a situation where an uneducated technician comes up with smart technical solutions faster than the formally trained, educated, so-called efficient technicians? In some cases, can't effectiveness come out without efficiency?
From India, Kochi
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I understand all that is said above. But, can an inefficient person be effective? For example, how would we clarify a situation where an uneducated technician comes up with smart technical solutions faster than the formally trained, educated, so-called efficient technicians? In some cases, can't effectiveness come out without efficiency?
From India, Kochi
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Hi,
According to me, the effectiveness of a process equals the ability to achieve desired results, while the efficiency of a process equals the results achieved versus the resources used. Effectiveness is qualitative, and efficiency is quantitative.
Thanks,
Pratibha
From India, Calcutta
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According to me, the effectiveness of a process equals the ability to achieve desired results, while the efficiency of a process equals the results achieved versus the resources used. Effectiveness is qualitative, and efficiency is quantitative.
Thanks,
Pratibha
From India, Calcutta
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The difference in effectiveness and efficiency lies in the relationship between "quality" and "quantity."
For example, if you are given 10 tasks to do and you complete all of them but in a shabby manner, you are very efficient but not effective.
From India, Visakhapatnam
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For example, if you are given 10 tasks to do and you complete all of them but in a shabby manner, you are very efficient but not effective.
From India, Visakhapatnam
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I think efficiency is doing the right things only, whereas effectiveness is doing the right things at the right time too, which produces the desired results. Hence, one can be efficient but not effective, whereas an effective person is always efficient too.
Baiju
From United Arab Emirates, Dubai
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Baiju
From United Arab Emirates, Dubai
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Hi Shijit,
Efficiency is getting the most out of input. Input includes resources which may be financial, time, or people. In other words, efficiency is a ratio of output to input. Therefore, in order to increase efficiency, we have to reduce resource usage.
Effectiveness is measured in terms of the correctness of the product/service or whether the output is achieved using the right method. We may be producing things efficiently (using the least resources), but if we are doing the wrong things, then we are efficient but not effective. Efficiency addresses resource usage, whereas effectiveness focuses on goal attainment.
You are right that an effective person has to be efficient, but not vice versa.
Hope this will be of some help.
Regards,
Mallianthan
From India, Coimbatore
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Efficiency is getting the most out of input. Input includes resources which may be financial, time, or people. In other words, efficiency is a ratio of output to input. Therefore, in order to increase efficiency, we have to reduce resource usage.
Effectiveness is measured in terms of the correctness of the product/service or whether the output is achieved using the right method. We may be producing things efficiently (using the least resources), but if we are doing the wrong things, then we are efficient but not effective. Efficiency addresses resource usage, whereas effectiveness focuses on goal attainment.
You are right that an effective person has to be efficient, but not vice versa.
Hope this will be of some help.
Regards,
Mallianthan
From India, Coimbatore
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Dear Shijit,
Happy New Year to your organization. Every member in the forum has provided a comprehensive definition on E & E. One more, please. Suppose you have to board the train at 9 pm for an hour's journey, and you have accomplished it. You are efficient, but if it is the wrong train, then it is ineffective. This means the net result is zero. Efficiency is the cause, and effectiveness is the effect. Result-oriented managers are effect-oriented. I hope I am clear.
Thank you.
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Happy New Year to your organization. Every member in the forum has provided a comprehensive definition on E & E. One more, please. Suppose you have to board the train at 9 pm for an hour's journey, and you have accomplished it. You are efficient, but if it is the wrong train, then it is ineffective. This means the net result is zero. Efficiency is the cause, and effectiveness is the effect. Result-oriented managers are effect-oriented. I hope I am clear.
Thank you.
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Hi Shijit,
Effectiveness = Achieving the intended result/goal.
Efficiency = Inputs required to achieve the intended result.
To evaluate effectiveness, the goal has to be set first, without which all measurements will be vague.
For example, in the recruitment process, a goal could be to recruit a Manager within a 1-month time frame. If the process achieves this result within the desired time frame, we can say the recruitment process is effective; otherwise, it is ineffective.
Now, let's consider efficiency, which may include the cost involved in the recruitment or the number of hours spent by HR on this process.
Regarding the cost involved:
1. The associated cost may vary, such as the cost for sourcing CVs from job sites or using a consultant for recruitment. Costs will also differ if campus visits are required.
2. Additionally, consider the effort put into the recruitment in terms of the number of hours spent by different individuals (HR round, Technical round, etc.). If the number of candidates interviewed increases, the cost of recruitment will also increase, potentially reducing efficiency. However, efficiency is always a comparative factor, measured as output/input, with the input varying based on the recruitment method adopted.
In cases of ineffectiveness, efficiency does not come into the picture at all.
I hope this explanation clarifies the definitions. Please feel free to contact me if you need more examples or further explanation.
Srini
Email: srinivasd@netscribes.com
From India, Pune
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Effectiveness = Achieving the intended result/goal.
Efficiency = Inputs required to achieve the intended result.
To evaluate effectiveness, the goal has to be set first, without which all measurements will be vague.
For example, in the recruitment process, a goal could be to recruit a Manager within a 1-month time frame. If the process achieves this result within the desired time frame, we can say the recruitment process is effective; otherwise, it is ineffective.
Now, let's consider efficiency, which may include the cost involved in the recruitment or the number of hours spent by HR on this process.
Regarding the cost involved:
1. The associated cost may vary, such as the cost for sourcing CVs from job sites or using a consultant for recruitment. Costs will also differ if campus visits are required.
2. Additionally, consider the effort put into the recruitment in terms of the number of hours spent by different individuals (HR round, Technical round, etc.). If the number of candidates interviewed increases, the cost of recruitment will also increase, potentially reducing efficiency. However, efficiency is always a comparative factor, measured as output/input, with the input varying based on the recruitment method adopted.
In cases of ineffectiveness, efficiency does not come into the picture at all.
I hope this explanation clarifies the definitions. Please feel free to contact me if you need more examples or further explanation.
Srini
Email: srinivasd@netscribes.com
From India, Pune
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An effective job need not be efficient automatically. For example, you may produce an appointment letter correctly that meets all requirements of the organization, but you might have taken several days and several members of your organization to correct it.
Efficiency reflects the amount of resources used to achieve the effective result. Yes, there is no point in being "Efficient but Not Effective." That is like doing unnecessary things correctly. One has to be first effective and then look at being efficient.
Hitting the bull's eye is being effective; the number of bullets used to achieve this reflects efficiency.
From India, Madras
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Efficiency reflects the amount of resources used to achieve the effective result. Yes, there is no point in being "Efficient but Not Effective." That is like doing unnecessary things correctly. One has to be first effective and then look at being efficient.
Hitting the bull's eye is being effective; the number of bullets used to achieve this reflects efficiency.
From India, Madras
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Efficient means 'Able to do the things' and Effective means 'Result Oriented'. For example, Sehwag is able to play 6 balls in an over without getting out is his efficiency in batting (though he hasn't scored a single run), but hitting a run on every ball is 'EFFECTIVENESS' in batting.
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Dear All,
Efficiency and effectiveness are two different things, as quoted by Shijit. Efficiency means doing the job rightly; however, effectiveness means doing the right job. Efficiency is related to the way of doing things, while effectiveness is related to the way the targets are chosen to be achieved. Both are different, and both are necessary to get a fruitful result. So, it is clear that an efficient person need not always be effective, and an effective person need not always be efficient.
Regards,
Jyoti
From India, Delhi
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Efficiency and effectiveness are two different things, as quoted by Shijit. Efficiency means doing the job rightly; however, effectiveness means doing the right job. Efficiency is related to the way of doing things, while effectiveness is related to the way the targets are chosen to be achieved. Both are different, and both are necessary to get a fruitful result. So, it is clear that an efficient person need not always be effective, and an effective person need not always be efficient.
Regards,
Jyoti
From India, Delhi
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Dear Sir,
Efficiency, represented as output/input, measures quantity, while effectiveness pertains to quality, indicating the impact of quantity on other related processes. Therefore, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) should reflect both quantity and quality.
Regards, Dr. Pampari
From India, Hyderabad
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Efficiency, represented as output/input, measures quantity, while effectiveness pertains to quality, indicating the impact of quantity on other related processes. Therefore, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) should reflect both quantity and quality.
Regards, Dr. Pampari
From India, Hyderabad
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Hi,
Just see the example below:
Task: Need to source and recruit a person who can take care of Quality Department, within 20 days.
Efficient worker: Makes sure it's completed on time, submits profiles, and conducts interviews - finally has the quality person on board within the specified "Time."
Effective: Priority would be fitting in the "right" and perfect candidate, so that there is no need to replace the person for non-performance in the future. Carefully analyzes the best source to seek the right talent. In the process - may complete the task in 20 days or may extend it... but will make sure it's just the "on the dot" candidate and no one needs to regret over that hire!
Efficiency is in keeping with the standards, the deadlines, and the policies, which may ultimately lead him to provide the best, but not always as he is time-bound and deadline-oriented.
Effectiveness... along with the end product will also manage to take care of deadlines and dates - but plans smartly.
An efficient person may not always be effective.
An effective person would mostly be efficient.
From India, Madras
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Just see the example below:
Task: Need to source and recruit a person who can take care of Quality Department, within 20 days.
Efficient worker: Makes sure it's completed on time, submits profiles, and conducts interviews - finally has the quality person on board within the specified "Time."
Effective: Priority would be fitting in the "right" and perfect candidate, so that there is no need to replace the person for non-performance in the future. Carefully analyzes the best source to seek the right talent. In the process - may complete the task in 20 days or may extend it... but will make sure it's just the "on the dot" candidate and no one needs to regret over that hire!
Efficiency is in keeping with the standards, the deadlines, and the policies, which may ultimately lead him to provide the best, but not always as he is time-bound and deadline-oriented.
Effectiveness... along with the end product will also manage to take care of deadlines and dates - but plans smartly.
An efficient person may not always be effective.
An effective person would mostly be efficient.
From India, Madras
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Performance Review Form - KDCL for year 2010.xls
Performance-app raisal_806.pdf
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