Final answer:
b. Throughput is the rate at which a system processes work per unit time and is distinct from output, productivity, and efficiency. Bureaucracies aim for increased productivity and efficiency. Thermal efficiency measures the ratio of work output to energy input.
Step-by-step explanation:
The number of processes completed per unit time is known as throughput. Throughput refers to how much work or how many transactions can be processed by a system within a given amount of time. It differs from output, which is simply the amount produced, and it is not specifically tied to productivity or efficiency, although they can be related.
Bureaucracies are often designed with the intention to provide increased productivity and increased efficiency. These structures organize work in a way that is supposed to streamline processes and decision-making paths.
Thermal efficiency is most accurately defined as the ratio of work output to the energy input. This is indicative of a system's ability to convert energy into work while minimizing the amount of energy lost as heat.