Question

1. Chapter 2: A catering company prepared and served 300 meals at an anniversary celebration last week using eight workders. The week before, six workers prepared and served 240 meals at a wedding reception.

a. For which event was the labor productivity higher? Explain?

Anniversary Event=300/8=37.5 meals per worker

Wedding Event= 240/6= 40 meals per worker

Labor productivity was higher for the wedding.

b. What are some possible reasons for the productivity differences?

Answer 1

1. Labor Productivity = Output / Number of labor

For Anniversary event:

Output = 300 meals

Number of labor = 8 workers

Labor Productivity = 300/8 = 37.5 meals per labor

For Wedding event:

Output = 240

Number of labor = 6 workers

Labor Productivity = 240/6 = 40 meals per labor

​​​​​​Therefore, labor Productivity is higher for wedding.

2. One of the major reasons for productivity difference is that for wedding, each worker produces more number of meals as compared to the event of anniversary. This can be due to difference in training levels of workers. Other reasons for the difference in the productivity can include overall difference in work ethics of the workers, unexpected constraint in case of anniversary event, different production method etc.