It should also circumscribe which issues should be the focus of the following four weeks of discussion. Productivity and competitiveness in the context of the changed markets and business environment. In the changed market environment, it is said that competitiveness in now based not just on costs alone but increasingly on quality, customer orientation, service, product differentiation, speed to market, flexibility and innovation. Productivity improvement in the context of the changing structure of production and nature of work. The new production systems are characterized by increasing use of outsourcing.
Enterprises are increasingly dependent of networks of suppliers of components and services.
Some now talk of improving productivity and competitiveness of value chain or supply chain. The nature of work is also changing with the knowledge content increasing. Creating an enabling and supportive policy environment. The policy and regulatory environment play a critical role in productivity improvement of sectors and enterprises. These are determined to an important extent by government policy.