An efficiency expert assists businesses in becoming more profitable by enhancing one or more aspects of their organization’s structure and growth plans. She is generally regarded as a business consultant who specializes in identifying and recommending solutions to a company’s inefficiencies. Any aspect of the company’s operations could be a source of concern.
This position can be found in either a large or small business consulting firm. Large corporations occasionally hire an efficiency expert as a full-time employee. A self-employed, independent contractor could also hold the position. Her clients’ businesses range in size from small to large, but most have at least ten full-time employees.
An efficiency expert usually meets with the company’s leaders and managers shortly after being hired to assess the organization’s strengths and weaknesses. Aside from referring to documents that reflect profit, loss, and investments, the expert usually relies heavily on the company leaders’ candor. In order to accurately identify problems and recommend solutions, she typically needs to be aware of all areas of concern, real or perceived.
An efficiency expert will usually proceed to analyze where a company’s effectiveness is failing after a sufficient amount of information and facts have been provided. The company’s general business communication structure is one of the most common areas of inefficiency. Re-categorizing or restructuring jobs and job descriptions is another common area where efficiency can be improved.
Many inefficient businesses can be traced back to poor and ambiguous oral and written communications among employees. Management and staff are frequently working toward different goals without management’s knowledge, according to an efficiency expert. She may also find that employees considered to be on the same team have different objectives and are unaware their efforts may be canceling each other out and accomplishing nothing. She usually recommends corporate learning programs to improve communications and increase productivity in order to merge these divergent paths into one that leads to the company’s overall success.
Job responsibilities that are clearly defined are also known to improve a company’s efficiency. Job descriptions for vastly different job titles frequently duplicate or have a significant number of the same duties, according to an efficiency expert. When duplicated efforts are eliminated, efficiency in each department and the company as a whole usually improves significantly.
A bachelor’s degree in business administration, economics, psychology, or finance is usually required for this position. Many employers prefer candidates with advanced degrees in these fields. In most cases, a successful candidate’s resume will also list accomplishments in business analysis and consulting.