The Productivity Riddle: What Policymakers Don't Know and Managers Need to Find Out

Productivity, and its recent decline in Australia, are becoming the 21st century's biggest conundrums. Reforms are needed to heighten incentives for employers and increase organisations' flexibility, claim experts. Meanwhile, a forum that was promised prior to the last federal election to address key productivity issues is still awaited. There are more questions than answers concerning what drives productivity, which policy changes are needed and just what will make a difference within sectors and companies. But a US study that scoped out key areas for managers' consideration offers some leads.