“Every problem is a management problem.” And most management problems have to do with people. The effective utilization of an organization’s personnel should be one of the first places to look for ways to improve competitive advantage. This includes downsizing where appropriate, as well as a focus on collaboration and team-building. Keep in mind that improving organizational effectiveness through effective personnel utilization does not always mean that everyone’s schedule should be crammed full of “work.”
This is a very complex issue, involving personnel functions such as recruiting, screening, training, etc., as well as planning, management effectiveness and organizational structure. It’s rather difficult to come up with a general method for increasing organizational effectiveness in a limited space like this, but I will tell you that effective team-building almost always yields positive results. Just make sure that you build teams where appropriate based on tasks to be accomplished, and focus on individual contributors when appropriate as well.