If a company can expand its output to meet the market demands simply by internal efficiency improvements (which is what productivity means to some extent), why should they go out and hire more labor?

FORBES: It's The Productivity, Stupid

The case for starting from within starts to look even better when you consider the fact that many of the companies that have made internal efficiency improvements in order to achieve emissions reduction are not only improving their corporate image, but are also saving money.

FORBES: Should Companies Outsource Carbon Reduction?

Southern said its trains were now more reliable, work was taking place on the rail infrastructure, and there had been a full review of internal procedures to identify where improvements could be made.

BBC: Rail services hit 'all-time low'

Among the ideas that have become reality: A product that helps remotely track the safety of school buses, improvements to the internal phone system and cost-cutting measures, such as reducing the use of overnight delivery for packages.

WSJ: My Colleague, My Paymaster

Its top organisational target is given as "year-on-year improvements demonstrated in the annual staff survey in areas such as leadership and internal communications".

BBC: NEWS | UK | Education | Ofsted staff say they are stressed