EP026

Higher Process Throughput Targets vs. Employee Workload Sustainability

Business Context. Setting ambitious throughput targets to improve enterprise process performance can motivate teams to work more efficiently, but targets set without regard to sustainable workload can drive burnout and long-term performance decline.

Process TRIZ Resolution. Rather than setting throughput targets based solely on desired output, organizations should set targets informed by validated capacity data, ensuring ambitious goals remain achievable within a sustainable workload rather than requiring unsustainable effort.

Applicable TRIZ Principles

Principle 23 (Feedback) uses validated capacity data to inform realistic throughput targets.

Principle 35 (Parameter Changes) adjusts targets based on measured sustainable capacity rather than desired output alone.

Principle 15 (Dynamics) revisits targets periodically as capacity and process improvements evolve.

Expected Outcome

Ambitious yet achievable throughput targets

Sustainable employee workload

Reduced burnout-related performance decline

Credible, evidence-based target-setting

Decision Indicators

Throughput targets were set without reference to actual capacity data.

Employee burnout has increased since targets were raised.

Performance has declined over time despite higher targets being set.

No mechanism exists to revisit targets based on sustainability evidence.

Staff describe current targets as unrealistic given available capacity.

If several of these indicators are present, the contradiction is likely active and the Process TRIZ resolution above should be evaluated.