Corresponding Author: Gayatri
Sunkad
E-mail: [email protected]
INTRODUCTION
Production and workforce are necessary to achieve
something in the world. It is like the railway engine which guides the whole
system (Dennis, 2017). It is necessary for the economic progress of the
nation also. Production is a necessary part of our economic system. All
economic activities end in the concept of Production. Nevertheless, for quality
production, there should also be an efficient and organized workforce. The
workforce should have good quality and quantitative with manual and
technology-based systems, leading to outstanding Production.
Productivity can be interpreted by increasing quantity
and quality (Hanushek, 2020). Labor productivity is a barometer of how far workers
are used effectively in a production process to achieve the expected output.
One of the supporting elements is the age level of the workforce. Workers with
a productive age level of 15-50 years can adapt quickly to new tasks and are
easy to understand and use technology. However, it is different with
non-productive age workers, whose physical abilities are certainly decreasing,
and it is difficult to adapt to technology, so their work productivity will
decrease.
Productivity which explains the input-output
relationship is a crucial factor whose benefits can be distributed in various
ways, such as better wages and working conditions for workers, increased
profits and dividends to shareholders, environmental protection, and increased
revenues for the Government (Thompson &
Goodale, 2006). It helps companies and countries to stay competitive
in domestic and global markets. Increased productivity can be attributed to
various reasons such as new technology, new machines, better management
practices; investment in plant and equipment and technology, improvement of
occupational safety at the skill level of workers; macroeconomic policies on
labor market conditions, the business environment and public investment in
infrastructure and education. The rapid development of technology and changing
times make competition between similar companies increasingly tight, and it is
necessary to have a strategy that can increase productivity so that companies
can manage production systems well, increase the efficiency of the resources used,
improve product quality and meet consumer demand targets (Cusumano et al., 2015). The company's constraints in increasing productivity
on the production floor are generally influenced by the inappropriate use of
resources during production activities.
METHOD
This study uses a literature review research design.
Search for articles discussed in research I using several databases such as
scientific direct, google scholar regarding published productivity journals.
Our Six Steps Methodology for Integrated Workforce
Planning is a practical approach to planning that ensures you have a workforce
of the right size with the right skills and competencies (Mathis et al., 2016). The Methodology identifies those elements that should be in any workforce
plan, considering the current and future demand for services, the local
demographic situation and the impact on other services while helping you work
to the budget you can afford. �Skills for Health�s
Six-Step Methodology builds into the process of workforce planning essential
elements to ensure the quality of services are both discussed and planned for.�
(Al-Sawai & Al-Shishtawy,
2015) The Six Steps
Methodology offers:
�
a systematic practical
approach that supports the delivery of quality patient care, productivity, and
efficiency
�
assurance that workforce
planning decisions taken are sustainable and realistic
�
a scalable approach, from small
ward-based plans to large organizations
�
a joined-up approach to
social care, where the same approach has been adopted.
The Six Steps are:
1)
Step 1: Defining the plan
2)
Step 2: Mapping service
change
3)
Step 3: Defining the
required workforce
4)
Step 4: Understanding
workforce availability
5)
Step 5: Planning to deliver
the required workforce
6)
Step 6: Implement, monitor
and refresh
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
1.
Meaning
of Production
Since the primary purpose of economic activity is to
produce utility for individuals, we count as Production during a period all
activity which either creates utility during the period or increases the
society's ability to create utility in the future. J. R. Hicks, �Production is
any activity directed to the satisfaction of other peoples� wants through
exchange.� (Ekeh & Giambi,
2022). This definition makes it clear that, in economics,
we do not treat the mere making of things as Production. What is made must be
designed to satisfy wants. The word production has a broad meaning in
economics. Production includes the Production of goods and services. Though
Production appears to be the creation of wealth, man cannot create anything
new. He can increase the utility of the natural wealth available. Hence, we
must know that Production means only creating special utility. The goods thus
produced must have value. The production function includes transport, trade,
and distribution (Hesse &
Rodrigue, 2014). The function of Production completes when the
goods and services reach the consumer. Natural wealth, labor, capital, and
organization are essential for Production (Ali & Zulfiqar,
2018). Economists have called these factors of
Production.�� Production is possible only
when there is proper coordination among these four factors. It is only for the
welfare of the consumers that crores of people are involved in different ways
in different capacities in the production process.
The making or doing of things that are not wanted or
made just for fun does not qualify as Production. On the other hand, all jobs
that aim to satisfy wants are part of Production. Those who provide services,
Such as hair-dressers, solicitors, bus drivers, postmen, and clerks, are as
much a part of satisfying wants as farmers, miners, factory workers and bakers.
Whether any activity is productive is whether anyone will buy its end product.
If we buy something, we must want it; if we are not willing to buy it, then, in
economic terms, we do not want it.
So, from our above definition, many valuable
activities, such as the work done by people in their own houses and gardens
(the so-called do-it-yourself exercise) and all voluntary work (such as free
coaching, free nursing, collection of subscriptions for a social cause such as
flood-relief or earthquake- relief) immensely add to the quality of life.
However, there is no practical way of measuring their economic worth (value).
This being so, and because in economics, an
important task is to measure changes in the volume of Production, it is
necessary to add the qualifying clause 'through exchange', i.e., in return for
money, to the definition of Production.
2.
Three
Types of Production:
For general purposes, it is necessary to classify Production into three
main groups:
a.
Primary
Production: Primary Production is carried out by 'extractive' industries like
agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, and oil extraction. These industries
are engaged in such activities as extracting the gifts of Nature from the
earth's surface, from beneath the earth's surface and from the oceans (Martinez-Alier &
Walter, 2016).
b.
Secondary
Production: This includes Production in the manufacturing industry, viz.,
turning out semi-finished and finished goods from raw materials and
intermediate goods� converting flour into bread or iron ore into finished
steel. They are generally described as manufacturing and construction
industries, such as the manufacture of cars, furnishing, clothing and
chemicals, as also engineering and building (Pavlenko &
Eugenia, 2021).
c.
Tertiary
Production: Industries in the tertiary sector produces all those services which
enable the finished goods to be put in the hands of consumers. These services
are supplied to firms in all industry types and directly to consumers. Examples
cover distributive traders, banking, insurance, transport, and communications.
Government services, such as law, administration, education, health and
defense, are also included.
3.
Factors
of Production:
Production of a commodity or service requires using
certain resources or factors of Production (Kurz &
Salvadori, 1997). Since most of the resources necessary to carry on
Production are scarce relative to demand, they are called economic resources.
Resources, which we shall call factors of Production, are combined in various
ways by firms or enterprises to produce an annual flow of goods and services.
Figure 1. Workforce Productivity
There are many
factors of Production.�� For example, raw
materials, manual and use of science and technology, operative skill,
Managerial ability, coordination between all movable and immovable resources
etc.
1)
Raw
materials are necessary for Production and are an important factor in
Production. Raw materials are important because they are necessary and the base
of Production. Whatever the Production may be, agriculture, industries,
transport, communication etc. Most of the time, the industries are located
where raw materials are available.
2)
Manual
and use of science and technology; - Manual and use of science and technology
are both needs in the production concept. Manual means the human resource which
is used to operate the machines. It is also like the engine of Production.
�
Human
resource is as important as natural resources. Just like natural resources are
necessary for the nation's progress, it is very necessary from the point of
view of the nation's development. Even though in the era of science and
technology, human sources are an integral part of the nation.
�
Due
to the era of the industrial revolution, we are much more dependent on
machines. Still, skilled human resources are necessary to operate the machines,
and in agriculture, defense, and industries, human resources are an integral
part of our economic system. If any country has a skilled and qualitative
population, it is the main resource of any nation.
3)
Use
of science and technology; - The use of science and technology is also an
important concept of Production. In the modern era, science and technology are
leading to contributions to growth in Production. This science and technology
help in the speedy growth of Production.
4)
Managerial
ability; - Managerial ability leads to the excellent growth of Production. It
is also called team leadership which means the captain of the ship. If the
captain is an able person, then the whole team works in the correct side of the
direction. The efficient manager manages all the things, handles the
troubleshooting and situation, and truly influences the workforce. Suppose we
have an efficient team and leader. In that case, we can assume that there is a
good workforce behind qualitative Production.
5)
Operative
skill in the Production; - Operative skill is also called expertise in a skill
that contributes to the production aspect. If there is the availability of all
factors, but if the employees lack the skill of expertise, then there is all
are becoming useless
.
6)
Coordination
between movable and non-movable things; -There should be good coordination
between the manual and machines. There should also be coordination between the
team leader and the whole working team. The expertise and dedicated staff
handle the immovable things, leading to qualitative and quantitative
Production. Having updated knowledge, only we can operate the instruments and
the correct use of resources. Here the resources can be termed artificial and
human resources. If the human resources are correct, then the instruments work
correctly.
7)
The
relation between Production and workforce; - Both Production and workforce are
the main aspects of the nation's economic growth. Both are the two wheels of
the cart of economic growth of the nation. But both are necessary for the
all-around progress of the nation. If there is dedicated staff, in the name of
a well-organized workforce, then there is a good production term. A
well-organized workforce leads to better Production, and both are the two faces
of the same coin. If their s good Production and a well-dedicated workforce,
there the development in terms of direction.
4.
Importance
of Production
We cannot imagine the term '' Production'' without a workforce. Without a
workforce, there is no existence of Production, and both are co-related terms.
Production is just like the oxygen of the economic system of the nation, and it
is the base of the organized society. All fields like agriculture, industries,
transport, and communication n also have a base, that is Production. For qualitative
Production, there is the necessity for a well-equipped workforce that works to
increase production growth.
1)
Distribution
Distribution is a very important economic activity.
The important function of distribution is to distribute the goods produced
involving the interaction of the factors of Production (Becker et al., 2017). The national income produced among land, labor,
capital, and organization is rent, wages, interest, and profit. The
distribution occurs in the rate of the role played by each factor of
Production. It should balance the demand and supply without bringing an
obstacle to Production. Special importance should not be given to any factors
of Production, nor should any of them be neglected. This is necessary to
maintain equilibrium in the entire economic system. Distribution is influenced
by many factors, such as Production, demand, supply consumption, price fixation
etc.
2)
Consumption
Using goods and services to satisfy wants is
consumption (Brewer & Porter,
2013). The goods and services consumed may be bad, but if
they satisfy wants, they will be consumed. In modern economics, a lot of
importance is given to consumers.
There are two types of consumption:
a.
Goods
and services used for Production.
b.
Finished
goods and services used to satisfy wants. Generally, consumption means
satisfaction of wants.
The prosperity of the nation, the standard of living
and the employment ratio depend upon the quantity of consumption of the
respective nation. This is because the economic organization is there to
satisfy human wants, and it ends only after consumption. In order to consume,
there must be Production and distribution. Production takes place to satisfy
wants. Production and income increase when consumption increases, creating
markets for the goods produced and providing full employment opportunities.
Production, income, and value decrease when consumption decreases, creating
unemployment. So, consumption and Production have a close relationship between
them. �Both combined have a significant influence on the national income.
5.
Workforce
Scheduling
Workforce scheduling entails establishing the
schedule of your current hourly workforce to manage the predicted amount of
work in your business (Henly & Lambert,
2014). Several factors affect the process of workforce
scheduling. These factors include increased footfall in the retail or
restaurant industry, increased tendency of accidents and, therefore, hospital
visits during certain holidays, sudden emergencies in manufacturing or
construction, and increased requirements in call or contact centers. Employee
availability, employee skills, and productivity also determine the scheduling
process. Workforce scheduling is an integral component of workforce management,
which involves considering predicted workloads and the number of resources
needed to complete the job. With dynamic industries (as are most industries
that hire hourly workers), the workload changes frequently, and having an
automated scheduling process to handle these changes is imperative Workforce
scheduling has gone way beyond the traditional spreadsheet. The suite of
workforce scheduling software now available ensures that you, for all practical
purposes, never struggle with planning schedules on spreadsheets again. From
cross-device functionality to mobility for a cross-country workforce, this
software can help the struggling manager to streamline workforce scheduling.
Figure 2. Emerging Workforce (N = 176) Preferences for
Faculty
Many terms in the concept of workforce influence the factor of the
workforce.
1)
Employee
availability; Employee availability is the main force of the workforce.� � Sometimes, we face the availability of
employees and sometimes, due to unemployment, there is overcrowding of
aspirants to get a suitable job according to their qualifications. A suitable person
for a suitable job is the main aspect of the workforce. A well-organized
workforce depends upon the e availability of employees. Most companies sometimes
face a shortage of employees due to many reasons. Like geographical factors,
the attraction of designations sometimes decreases in public due t many
scandals etc., and it directly affects the growth of any organization. For example,
due to the COVID problem, their s work from home culture was started. So many
companies removed their employees during the time of economic recession.
2)
Employee
skills; - Employee skills are the main organ of the workforce, and a
well-skilled workforce can only build any organization (Green, 2013). Skills mean not only expertise in the technical
field and hard-working culture.
3)
Employee
productivity; - Employee productivity is also the main quality as well as
assessment of any workforce of the organization. Manual Production, economic
Production as well as employee productivity are also the main leading factor of
a well-organized workforce and betterment of Production. Employee productivity
means how much every employee contributes to Production in any organization,
including mental strength, will power, expertise in the technical field, dedication
toward the organization, etc. If there are lack of any fields like resources,
raw materials, communication, economic factors etc. but it should not lack
employee productivity.
6.
Workforce
Diversity
Due to the forces of globalization, the increasing
significance of the internet in everyday life and various other factors, the
Nature of the workforce is going through changes. In order to survive in
today's highly competitive marketplace, companies must deal with changes in
their workforce efficiently. Specifically, companies need to devise initiatives
and programs aimed at dealing with the issues of the aging population in many
developed countries, the percentage of which represents their workforce, as
well as their need to implement practices that eliminate the possibility of
diversity in the workforce becoming a major issue within an organization.
Moreover, because of the changing employment patterns, including working from
home and job sharing, companies are left with no choice but to accommodate the
workforce who prefer these new working patterns. This paper aims to analyze to
what extent Apple Corporation, US multinational company producing consumer
electronics, computer software and personal computers, is fulfilling its need
to adapt to changes in its workforce. Specifically, the paper will analyze four
major changes in the workforce: the aging workforce, diversity of the
workforce, the flexibility of the workforce, and changes in training and
development needs.
The aging workforce is one of the major problems the
US, European counties, Russia and a range of other countries face. Boone and
Kurtz (2009) inform that by 2030 the number of Americans above the age of 65
will double and reach 72 million people, representing almost 20 percent of the
US population. People born in the 'baby boom' after the second world war are
approaching their retirement age with not enough young people to replace them
in their job positions. This fact is creating problems on many levels.
Management at Apple corporation comprehends the
issues related to the aging workforce and therefore has implemented a set of
programs and initiatives that are aimed at minimizing the negative effect of
this problem. The initiatives within the company offer more flexibility for the
aging workforce in terms of offering them part-time jobs or working from home.
Moreover, all the workers are encouraged to lead a
healthy lifestyle in the company. Only full-time workers were covered by
medical insurance by the company until recently. However, Apple announced to
start from the beginning of January 2010, all part-time members of staff will
get medical insurance that will cost $8,000 per year per employee with an
additional annual bill of $80 million for the company.
Because of the forces of globalization, the
workforces in organizations have become more diverse in terms of nationality,
ethnic origin, lifestyle, sexual orientation etc. Companies that allow these
differences among the workforce to become a reason for disagreements and
misunderstandings will fail in the marketplace. Apple has been acknowledged as
a company where diversity among the workforce is seen as a source of a
competitive edge since diverse employees offer different perspectives on
existing issues. Brostoff (2009) informs that Human Rights Campaign Group has
added Apple to the list of 274 major companies that have created fair
opportunities for joining the companies and making a career for GLBT (gay,
lesbian, bisexual, and transsexual) minority group representatives. Not only
the rights of the GLBT minority but also the representatives of other minority
groups based on ethnic origin, race, and age are treated fairly and offered
equal opportunities as well. Gitman and McDaniel (2008) mention a survey of
Apple employees conducted by Vault research firm in 2005 that identified that
Apple employees were generally pleased with the opportunities for advancements
for the company's diverse workforce.
1)
The
features of the workforce; - The workforce has its features like the base of
Production, part of the army, an integral part of the economic sectors, an
indivisible part of the human resource etc.
2)
The
base of Production; -The well-organized and well-equipped workforce is always
the base of Production, most probably economic Production. Without a workforce,
we cannot assume the concept of Production.
3)
Part
of the army; -The dedicated and patriotic-minded workforce is an important part
of the army. In the era of complicated international-level concepts, the
workforce has its role. Even though we have modern weapons like missiles and
updated technical equipment, if we lack a dedicated workforce, all are becoming
useless. So, to protect our nation from the attack of foreign countries and to
avoid international clashes, there is a necessity for a workforce.
4)
Integral
part f the economic sectors; - The workforce is also an integral part of the
economic sectors, namely primary, secondary and tertiary sectors. Primary
sectors, including agriculture, fishing, domestication of animals, etc., all
have the base of the workforce. Without the farmer, we cannot assume that food
grains production and all the agriculture-supported activities like
domestication of animals exist only with the existence of a workforce. In the
secondary sector, to manufacture goods, there is a need for skilled laborers who
are also part of the workforce. In the tertiary or service sector, there is a
need for a skilled workforce to provide service to society. Teachers' lawyers
and scientists are part of the workforce who contributes to the wellness of our
society.
5)
Indivisible
part of the human resource; -The workforce is the indivisible part of the human
resource of any nation. Human resource means well-educated and dedicated people
who become assets of the nation. The workforce is a divided set of people with
professional knowledge assigned to work.
6)
The
workforce at the corporate level; - The workforce at the corporate level also
has its own role because it is facing challenges in daily life due to a
complicated framework. Adopting work culture and professionalism, and updated
knowledge, the workforce becomes an asset for any millionaire company.
7)
Importance
of training to the workforce; - To acquire professional knowledge, formal and
informal training is necessary. The trained and young workforce can also make
the nation a superpower. The formal and informal training includes updated
knowledge of science and technology, good personality development, well
qualified and hard-working group of people is becoming the asset of the
society.
8)
Importance
of workforce; - The workforce is an integral part of Production and the base of
all economic activities. It may be in agriculture, industries, defense, or any
other form. It is the base of the nation's strength and the qualitative and
quantitative part of the population. It has its role in the contribution to the
economic prosperity of the nation.�� We
can say that it is the moral of the nation. If we have well organized and
well-equipped workforce, then we can easily build our nation.
CONCLUSION
Productivity and workforce are the base
of economic development, which are integral to the nation. It also affects the
quality of the human resources of the nation. Both Production and workforce are
the two faces of the same coin. Both are integral as well as indivisible parts
of the economic framework of the nation. In conclusion, we can say that both
productivity and workforce are the influential part of the economic sector,
including industry and agriculture.
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https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejor.2004.03.048
