Dec 7, 2004 13:44
19 yrs ago
42 viewers *
English term
efficiency vs effectiveness
English
Bus/Financial
Business/Commerce (general)
Vocabulary
"Seeks to increase efficiency and/or effectiveness of products"
Given that there's only one word (AFAIK) in French to translate both efficiency & effectiveness (efficacité) - could so. please explain & explicit the subtleties between the two words (if any). I'll try to turn these explanation to my advantage ...in French
TIA
Given that there's only one word (AFAIK) in French to translate both efficiency & effectiveness (efficacité) - could so. please explain & explicit the subtleties between the two words (if any). I'll try to turn these explanation to my advantage ...in French
TIA
Responses
| 4 +11 | I'll try... |
Dr Sue Levy (X)
|
| 4 +3 | cost vs usefulness |
David Knowles
|
| 5 | see my explan. |
Neil Phillipson
|
| 4 | efficiency is the WAY of doing something; Effectiveness is the RESULT |
CMJ_Trans (X)
|
| 4 -1 | synonims |
Arcoiris
|
| 2 | efficience <> efficacité |
seaMount
|
Responses
+11
9 mins
Selected
I'll try...
with an example...
You have two machines that produce exactly the same result.
So they are both "effective".
But one uses less energy (resources) than the other, so it is more "efficient".
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Note added at 16 mins (2004-12-07 14:01:14 GMT)
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effectiveness= produces the desired result
efficiency=produces the desired result with minimum expenditure (in terms of energy, time, waste, etc.)
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Note added at 43 mins (2004-12-07 14:27:50 GMT)
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Oh and efficacy is the synonym for effectiveness, often applied to drug treatment.
You have two machines that produce exactly the same result.
So they are both "effective".
But one uses less energy (resources) than the other, so it is more "efficient".
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 16 mins (2004-12-07 14:01:14 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
effectiveness= produces the desired result
efficiency=produces the desired result with minimum expenditure (in terms of energy, time, waste, etc.)
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Note added at 43 mins (2004-12-07 14:27:50 GMT)
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Oh and efficacy is the synonym for effectiveness, often applied to drug treatment.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks Sue & Thanks to all the contributors :-) Michel"
+3
4 mins
David Knowles
Native in English
&
English
Works in field
Specialist in Civil Law & Contracts
Native in: English 
Works in: Russian to English, English, Ukrainian to English
Related KudoZ points
:
28
cost vs usefulness
Something which is "efficient" works in a cost-effective way. Something which is "effective" may be extremely expensive. Here is an invented paragraph to illustrate the difference.
The most efficient way of protecting the world against AIDS would be to find a low-cost drug that would protect 60% of its takers against malaria. The most effective drugs protect 90% of their users, but cost 10 times as much.
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Note added at 5 mins (2004-12-07 13:49:44 GMT)
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Sorry - changed my mind about what disease to protect against! Read AIDS for malaria (or vice versa).
The most efficient way of protecting the world against AIDS would be to find a low-cost drug that would protect 60% of its takers against malaria. The most effective drugs protect 90% of their users, but cost 10 times as much.
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Note added at 5 mins (2004-12-07 13:49:44 GMT)
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Sorry - changed my mind about what disease to protect against! Read AIDS for malaria (or vice versa).
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Hardy Moreno
13 mins
|
| agree |
Mikhail Kropotov
: costs (of all sorts) vs. outcome (does it work or not?)
22 mins
|
| agree |
Lisa Frideborg Eddy (X)
26 mins
|
6 mins
Neil Phillipson
Native in English
&
English
Quality,Legibility,ComprehensibilityFast
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, English, English to Spanish, and 1 more.
see my explan.
1. I am efficient with my time
2. I am effective with my time
1. I use my time well as a resource; I use little to carry out the tasks I need to do. I try to reduce the amount of time I take to do things (efficiency).
2. I use my time well to complete my tasks to the best of abilities. I try to increase my productivity and performance (effectiveness).
I hope it helps,
Neil.
2. I am effective with my time
1. I use my time well as a resource; I use little to carry out the tasks I need to do. I try to reduce the amount of time I take to do things (efficiency).
2. I use my time well to complete my tasks to the best of abilities. I try to increase my productivity and performance (effectiveness).
I hope it helps,
Neil.
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Dr Sue Levy (X)
: as soon as time is in the equation, it becomes a matter of efficiency :-)//if you sleep all day, YOU are being ineffective, don't blame your time :-D
8 mins
|
|
I can both use my time effectively and efficiently. I could/might sleep all day but it wouldn't be an effective use of my time because I wouldn't achieve anything. Effective is my message, inefficient though, because I used far too many words to do it.
|
-1
11 mins
synonims
according to Merriam- Webster, they are synonims, although I agree with Neil Philipson in that there are subtle differences in usage.
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=eff...
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Note added at 12 mins (2004-12-07 13:57:24 GMT)
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And I agree with Sue Levy for her useful example
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=eff...
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Note added at 12 mins (2004-12-07 13:57:24 GMT)
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And I agree with Sue Levy for her useful example
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
RHELLER
: synonyms is proper spelling; they are different
13 mins
|
| disagree |
Ken Cox
: Dictionary makers are forced to acknowldge popular usage, which does not always respect differences of meaning. The two words have distinctly different meanings, which must be respected in cases such as this one.
19 mins
|
18 mins
efficiency is the WAY of doing something; Effectiveness is the RESULT
in a nutshell
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Note added at 2004-12-07 14:03:48 (GMT)
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to increase a product\'s efficiency is to improve the way it works and functions
to increase a product\'s effectiiveness is to make it into a product that gives a better result
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Note added at 2004-12-07 14:03:48 (GMT)
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to increase a product\'s efficiency is to improve the way it works and functions
to increase a product\'s effectiiveness is to make it into a product that gives a better result
43 mins
efficience <> efficacité
source: eurodicautom
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