Solving the Productivity Puzzle: How to Engage, Motivate and Develop Employees to Improve Individual and Business Performance

I am Tim Ringo, author of Solving the Productivity Puzzle, (Kogan Page 2020). After a 30 year career doing large scale HR transformations while at Accenture, IBM and SAP SuccessFactors, I am now an author, speaker and executive board advisor. Previously, I co-wrote the Harvard Business Review book, Calculating Success. I am also a Chartered Fellow (FCIPD).

The idea for Solving the Productivity Puzzle came about after reading an OECD paper in 2017, that predicted a slowing rate of annual GDP growth, out to 2060. In the paper, the main causes for this decline came from the data they researched that showed that people productivity was forecast to remain in a steady rate of decline for the foreseeable future, because of three main factors:

1. Organisations are not investing enough in aligning people to new technology
2. Organisations are not transforming their processes to take advantage of digital technology
3. Organisations are not flattening company structures to better align to new technologies

It is true, people productivity has been in a state of stagnation or decline in almost every region of the world, since 2010, and it is also true that these challenges are very much the key factors. However, I found the paper too pessimistic about the future.

In my experience over the past five years or so, I have seen a marked change in attitudes of CEO’s and senior executives, (especially in HR), to address these challenges. Increasingly there is a recognition that the value of improving workforce engagement, investing in people is pathway to increasing performance and business value.

Therefore, the main purpose of the book is to highlight the changes that organisations are making (using real-life case studies), but also:

1. Redefine the word “productivity” for the 21st century; old definitions are very 19th century!
2. Outline a framework for implementing change;
– I call this PEIP: People Engagement, Innovation and Performance
3. Set out how the latewst HR cloud technology supports change
4. Set out a framework for creating a value case to gain investment in people change
5. Create a call to action: its not just about organisations that need to change, the workforce needs to demand and then help with the change.

The book is about solutions; proven solutions, which is the main aim of the book in creating value for readers. Over 30 years, I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly, and I distil it down to less then 225 pages, so a quick and easy read!

It has been a delight to see the book gain more and more readers and see the messages resonate with people. The feedback has been amazing. Most of all, I am immensely proud to have the book shortlisted for the Business Book Awards 2021, in the HR and Management. Thank you, Business Book Awards, and to the panel of judges!

Solving the Productivity Puzzle: How to Engage, Motivate and Develop Employees to Improve Individual and Business Performance (Published by Kogan Page) is available to buy on Amazon. 

Connect with Tim: LinkedIn – Twitter

Winners of The Business Book Awards 2021 will be revealed online on Tuesday 25th May 2021.