Not because the sentence is wrong
Not because we should all know the difference ( not so obvious - by the way )

But because it made me remember

how much practical and to the ground and unscapable is understanding
the difference between Effectiveness and Efficiency
in our daily efforts to reach our company's goals.

When I was working at the Project Management of GE General Electric as Black Belt we constantly fought this dilemma.

I remember very though discussions within the Project Management Leadership team with our General Manager Guido Ciatti, His Deputy Alberto Lombardini, the Chief of Planning Alessandro Gerini and the Directors of the variuos Project Management Teams.

What we should give precedence?

Efficiency ( Cost, Time, Cash management, Earnings … )
or
Effectiveness ( Customer Satisfaction , Quality, Branding… )

One day we nailed it.

I was watching on TV an old interview to Enzo Ferrari.

The Drake.

A man that with the performance of his products - better: creations -
has marked both the immaginary of generations and the progress of an industry.

At a certain point the journalist made a quite innocent questions:

"How do you get to cars that win the race?"

Enzo, with non-chalance, almost as it was obvious to the entire world said:

"First I want that my car reaches the top speed,
then
I take care that the top speed is kept for the full duration of the race"

Bang!

I rushed to the Project Management team with the news.

First you pursue Performace (Effectiveness)
Then you take care of Performance (Efficiency)

And this we applied since then.

Give it a try,
and let me know if it still works.

Cordialmente,
Flavio

Did you like this post? Do not miss the next hint:

Join my Newsletter "Little Nightly Thoughts" on marketing innovation
that runs continuosly since 2009 and reaches 5830 Professionals in 47 Countries:

Join: Little Nightly Thoughts