Final answer:
The utilization of a task is defined as the actual flow rate to capacity, known as the capacity factor, which measures actual system performance over time relative to peak performance.
Step-by-step explanation:
Utilization of a task or step can be defined as the ratio of the actual flow rate to capacity. This is also known as a capacity factor, which measures the actual performance of a system over time compared to its peak possible performance. In this context, it expresses how much of the total capacity is being used. For example, a typist's productivity could be measured by the number of pages typed per hour with different typewriters, which is a tangible representation of labor productivity enhanced by technology or economies of scale. Measuring productivity in operations management is vital for optimizing efficiency and understanding how resources are being utilized.