Efficient vs. Effective? Or, at best, BOTH.
While composing the other day, I automatically wrote the phrase “effective and efficient,” but realized I was not clear on the exact definitions of these terms. I knew they were not synonyms given how smoothly the phrase rolled out.
On the way to the definitions, I found that other people are confused about the terms and the differences are the topics of many a blog. Curiously, these definitions varied by blog; not quite sure what to make of that except we have become too fast-paced to use the dictionary though a key-stroke or mouse-click away. Here are the definitions of the two (& efficient’s antonym) from Oxford:
EFFICIENT
adjective
- 1(of a system or machine) achieving maximum productivity with minimum wasted effort or expense.
- 2(of a person) working in a well-organized and competent way.
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/efficient
EFFECTIVE
adjective
Successful in producing a desired or intended result.
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/effective
——-
INEFFICIENT
adjective
Not achieving maximum productivity; wasting or failing to make the best use of time or resources.
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/inefficient
——
- So, something is effective if a goal is met.
- If also efficient, the goal has been met optimally.
- Effective AND efficient is a wonderful thing!
Can one be effective but not efficient? All the time! I’ve illustrated this above. Effectiveness, or having met one’s goals, can be done efficiently or inefficiently. Increasing efficiency is a big, and not-so-easily-met challenge in many businesses – even if one is already quite effective. The need for greater efficiency may not even be seen. This is where critical thinking, innovation, brainstorming, testing, consulting, and trial-and-error come in.
How about efficient but not effective? Yes, indeed, if goals were not planned, measured, or, I suppose, not thought about. But let’s not think about that… because hopefully, that’s much less likely.