Final answer:
Productivity can be improved by decreasing inputs while keeping the output levels steady, as this increases the efficiency of the production process and results in a higher productivity ratio. option a.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question posed by the student pertains to productivity improvement strategies. Productivity can be defined as the ratio of outputs to inputs for a given process or operation. The objective is to maximize outputs while minimizing inputs, making the process more efficient. In the context provided, the most direct pathway to productivity improvement is by decreasing inputs while keeping outputs steady.
Achieving productive efficiency means utilizing existing inputs and technology to their maximum potential without the possibility of increasing production of one output without decreasing another. In accordance with this concept, the correct answer to how productivity can be improved would be option D) decreasing inputs while holding outputs steady. This is because being able to maintain output levels with lower inputs directly increases the productivity ratio.