TODAY I had the opportunity to share my thoughts with colleagues in the civil service of Brunei Darussalam on work culture and the journey towards higher productivity.
I began the session with a simple notion that is often deeply embedded in our understanding of work: “hard work.” But hard work does not necessarily mean high productivity. Working longer hours, doing more tasks, or putting in greater effort does not automatically translate into better outcomes.
Productivity is not simply about labour productivity. It should also be viewed through the broader lens of Total Factor Productivity (TFP)—how effectively we combine people, technology, capital, knowledge, processes, leadership and organisational systems to create greater value.
With TFP in mind, our focus shifts from merely working harder to working smarter, better and with greater purpose. The objective is not simply to produce more outputs, but to achieve better outcomes and, ultimately, greater public impact. This requires us to continuously ask: Are we doing the right things? Are we doing them well? And are we creating meaningful value for society?
A high-productivity culture therefore depends on more than individual commitment. It requires strong leadership, capable people, efficient systems, innovation, collaboration and a willingness to challenge established ways of working. Most importantly, productivity must be connected to the public value we seek to deliver.
The Institute of Public Service, Brunei Darussalam has been instrumental in exposing, developing and training leaders and managers across the public service. Its role is particularly important in nurturing a culture of continuous learning, professional excellence and institutional improvement.
The two-hour session was highly interactive and engaging. I received more than ten questions covering both concepts and practical applications, particularly in public service delivery, education and the environment. These thoughtful questions reflected a genuine interest in translating ideas into practice.
I left the session encouraged by the openness, curiosity and commitment of the participants. Ultimately, high productivity is not about doing more with less; it is about creating more value with the resources, talent and opportunities entrusted to us. For the public service, that means transforming effort into outcomes, outcomes into impact, and impact into lasting public value.
Original Post: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Dqvz8g7B7/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Credit to: Professor Zaini Ujang
