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productivity tracking methods - je suis MT

Posted: Jun 27, 2010

On someone else's recommendation, our boss is looking into "amount-of-time-in-a-document" as a method of tracking productivity. Anyone else have experience with this? Are (and if so, how are) variables (i.e., pauses, difficult dictator, etc.) factored in? Any input most welcome.

I believe there are few variables built in. - s/m

[ In Reply To ..]
For instance, I don't think it can be set up to allow you to take longer to transcribe Dr. Singh than it does Dr. Smith. I believe in their most basic form, they show when a transcription either downloads or opens a document and when they sign it off or upload it.

Some of the MTSOs, much to their detriment, are using ones that monitor idle time on the keyboard, and I believe those settings can be adjusted to "alert" at the time setting of the boss's choice; i.e., 3 minutes, 10 minutes, 30 minutes, etc.

My own feeling is that they are an invasion into my work style. If they were paying me hourly, *maybe* they would have the right to ensure I was giving them an hourly amount of work. However, if I am paid on production and am meeting my production requirements, then how I pace myself is really none of their concern, especially if I am being paid as an independent contractor. Obviously, if there are problems with hoarding jobs, STAT jobs languishing in a queue, or jobs going out of turnaround, that needs to be addressed, but my experience is that usually is an individual and should be addressed with that individual rather than Big Brother type intrusions.

variables - je suis MT

[ In Reply To ..]
Yes, we've been concerned about how to address those, too. You're info is quite useful.
Many thanks:)

Maybe this will help ... sm - Former Mgr

[ In Reply To ..]
Productivity metrics can include quite a variety of data. Usually, management is concerned with:
1. Overall time in a document.
2. Time spent active keying.
3. Time spent inactive (not keying).
4. TAT factor (how long it takes you to transcribe or edit 1 minute of voice).

This information is coupled with your overall line production rate and work hours reported and compared against the requirements of your job.

What they are looking for are gross and unreasonable gaps. The company will usually have a percentage of gap time allowed between any metric for research time, filling in template headers, etc.

Examples:

An MT consistently fails the payperiod production (lines) but reports 40 hours a week worked. When they look closer at the metrics, they might be able to determine if the MT is downloading a job and then spending long periods of time not actively keying. If an MT downloads a 5-minute dictation and then shows a total inactive time of 22 minutes with 25 minutes active time it would be a red flag.

Also, if a total active and inactive time of 32 hours was reported for a week but 40 hours reported in timekeeping, that is an unacceptable discrepancy. It could even be viewed as fraud.

This information usually is not used to "catch" good MTs or active producers in any awkward or rare situation but rather to weed out those who consistently poor performers, etc.

Just giving you the info. Don't shoot the messenger. Happy to answer any other questions but please do not e-mail - I will not respond to e-mails.

Former Mgr

does help - je suis MT

[ In Reply To ..]
Very good info - no thoughts of shooting you:)
Many thanks.

It sounds like just another reason to cheat MTs - out of even more pay. -n/m-

[ In Reply To ..]
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