Productivity is defined as the ratio of output to input. It measures production efficiency. Economic growth depends on inputs, while productivity increases are driven by improvements to the production function. Productivity can be improved by achieving more output with the same or less input through research and development, new equipment, simplifying products, improving methods, better planning, and increasing employee effectiveness. Productivity studies analyze technical processes and engineering relationships to increase efficiency. Automation, computerization, ergonomic design, and worker comfort can boost productivity, while labor productivity looks at average output per worker or per hour worked.