A DISCOVERY OF NEW KNOWLEDGE IN URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING: DEFINITION OF EFFICIENCY...

Friday, 19 September 2008

DEFINITION OF EFFICIENCY...

I try to find a general definition of efficiency in order to understand efficiency in the context of urban planning and my phd research. A week I spend my time in UKM's Library PTSL, I found a good and easy to understand the definition of efficiency. These 5 dictionaries will assist me in my research. The definitions of efficiency are:

The Random House Unabridged Dictionary
a. The state or quality of being efficient; competency in performance.

b. Accomplishment of or ability to accomplish a job with a minimum expenditure of time and effort: The assembly line increased industry's efficiency.

c. The ratio of the work done or energy developed by a machine, engine, etc., to the energy supplied to it, usually expressed as a percentage.

American Heritage Dictionary
a. The quality or property of being efficient.

b. The degree to which this quality is exercised: The program was implemented with great efficiency and speed.

c. The ratio of the effective or useful output to the total input in any system.

d. The ratio of the energy delivered by a machine to the energy supplied for its operation.

WordNet - Princeton University
a. The ratio of the output to the input of any system

b. Skillfulness in avoiding wasted time and effort; "she did the work with great efficiency

The American Heritage Science Dictionary
a. The ratio of the energy delivered (or work done) by a machine to the energy needed (or work required) in operating the machine. The efficiency of any machine is always less than one due to forces such as friction that use up energy unproductively.

b. The ratio of the effective or useful output to the total input in any system.

American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary
a. The production of the desired effects or results with minimum waste of time, effort, or skill.

b. A measure of effectiveness; specifically, the useful work output divided by the energy input in any system.

2 comments:

Fazz said...: Hi Mizam,

I suggest you find more detail efficiency in the context of economic. Pareto efficiency is the fundamental efficiency in any form of field. The concept of efficiency in science and public administration actually based on Pareto efficiency. Try study in detail the Pareto efficiency and relate to urban governance or urban planning. Pareto efficiency has been discussed in the micro economic. A lot of economic books discussed detail of Pareto Efficiency.

I think this is the niche of your research. Your try to study urban governance is different perspective. Good urban governance should go beyond not just in good practices of administration of local authority but urban governance can be used to enhance city region development and improve quality of life urban dweller. Efficiency in urban government is very much relevant in the era globalisation, improve urban competitiveness, encourage public trust to local authority ect.

Ok, I wish you good luck in your reseach. See you later..; 20 September 2008 at 07:35
Unknown said...: Thank you Mr Fazz. I will find the detail of Pareto Efficiency...; 20 September 2008 at 08:32

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The town and country planning activities officially started in Malaysia in 1921. The first town planning office was established in the Sultan Abdul Samad Secretariat Building, Kuala Lumpur and officially started operations on 18 January 1921. Among the earlier planning activities included the replanning and distribution of lots, the planning of housing and public house, road widening and straightening of Klang River. Town and country planning is a subject under List III i.e. the Concurrent list in the Federal Constitution, which is a joint responsibility of the Federal and State Governments. The Federal Department of Town and Country Planning is placed under the portfolio of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government. The main role of the Department is to advise the Minister who is then answerable to the Parliament, for all matters pertaining to town and country planning in the country. The land use planning system in Peninsular Malaysia is governed by the Town and Country Planning Act 1976 (Act 172).

Prior to the enactment of the TCP Act, local level land use planning and translation of policy into programmes was represented by the general ‘town plan’ which was prepared under the Town Boards Enactment Chapter 137 Part IX. This town plan was essentially a zoning and site development plan. The Act 172, an Act of Parliament, enacted in 1976 with the purpose of introducing a uniformed system of law and policy for town and country planning in Peninsular Malaysia. To accommodate the needs of the rapid changing environment, the Town and Country Planning Act 1976 has been amended for 3 times, i.e: -
· First amendment in 1993 (Act A866)
· Second amendment in 1995 (Act A933)
· Third amendment in 2001 (Act A1129)

Being the central land use planning agency in the country, the Federal Department Town and Country Planning has always taken the effort to further improve town and country planning service at the Federal, State and Local levels. All the planning policies and strategies formulated are interpreted into physical development to enhance efforts towards the creation of conducive, healthy, safe, beautiful and most importantly, building quality living environments and settlements for the population of the country.

WHAT...WHO...WHEN... WHY... IS UKM

Today UKM is recognised as one of four research universities in Malaysia. UKM has setup numerous research institutes to accelerate research in new areas. On the 28 April 2005, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, The Right Honourable Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi launched the Malaysia Genome Institute at UKM. The placement of the national institute in UKM signifies the research strength of the university in the area of genomics and molecular biology.

In this era of globalisation UKM's mission is to promote the national identity beyond the shores of the country. UKM, though a brainchild of nationalistic fervour and aspirations, is very international in outlook without sacrificing its cherished culture and values. UKM is proud to be ranked in the 2006 World's Top 200 Universities (Times Higher Education Supplement). The main theme of UKM's new image is "The National University with an International Reach".

A DISCOVERY OF NEW KNOWLEDGE IN URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING

Friday, 19 September 2008

DEFINITION OF EFFICIENCY...

2 comments:

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