Question

As you continued your discussion with Maia and Bram, you explain that even small, start-up companies should operate both efficiently and effectively. Although these terms sound similar, each has a different and precise meaning. You walk through a few examples with Maia and Bram to ensure that they have a solid understanding of the concepts. For the following examples, select the word or phrase that best completes the sentence.

Example : Charles wants to run a marathon in less than 3 hours. He made a schedule that should allow him to spend the minimum amount of time training while still improving his speed and endurance. Charles is following his plan, but his running time is not improving. Charles is:

Answer 1

Charles is efficient in his training approach for a marathon by minimizing time spent, but not effective since his running time is not improving. Efficiency is about how well resources are used, whereas effectiveness is about achieving the desired goal.

Step-by-step explanation:

The distinction between operating efficiently and effectively is important for businesses, including small, start-up companies. In the example provided, Charles is attempting to achieve a goal—but without the desired result.

Though Charles has a well-structured schedule intended to minimize his training time (which would normally be an indicator of efficiency), the lack of improvement in his running time suggests that his methods are not effective. Efficiency refers to doing things in an optimal way, such as with least waste of time and effort, while effectiveness is about doing the right things to achieve the desired end result. Therefore, in this scenario, Charles is efficient but not effective in his approach to training for the marathon.