Join hosts David Altena and Rob Bull as they delve into the subject of small and medium- business productivity in New Zealand. With a focus on driving operational excellence and business improvement, The Better SMB Podcast is your go-to resource for strategies, insights, and success stories from the front lines of the SMB sector.
Despite New Zealand’s historical challenges with productivity compared to our OECD peers, David and Rob are on a mission to turn the tide. Tune in to discover actionable
tips, expert interviews, and innovative ideas that will help your business thrive in today’s competitive landscape. Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, The Better SMB Podcast will equip you with the tools you need to enhance productivity and achieve your business goals.
Connect with us on LinkedIn: @DavidAltena and @RobBull
Join hosts David Altena and Rob Bull as they delve into the subject of small and medium- business productivity in New Zealand. With a focus on driving operational excellence and business improvement, The Better SMB Podcast is your go-to resource for strategies, insights, and success stories from the front lines of the SMB sector.
Despite New Zealand’s historical challenges with productivity compared to our OECD peers, David and Rob are on a mission to turn the tide. Tune in to discover actionable
tips, expert interviews, and innovative ideas that will help your business thrive in today’s competitive landscape. Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, The Better SMB Podcast will equip you with the tools you need to enhance productivity and achieve your business goals.
Connect with us on LinkedIn: @DavidAltena and @RobBull

In this episode, David and Rob dive back into the world of economic reports and ask a tough question: who are they really for? They take some time to revisit one of the first and most popular topics, they ever covered on the show and explore what’s changed over the past 12 months.
The discussion covers:
Why reports from Stats NZ, MBIE, and MFAT fail to provide practical value for SMBs
How productivity has become New Zealand’s biggest economic challenge, and why we’re still asking the same questions decades later
What meaningful support for SMBs should look like, including leadership development, actionable data, and incentives that actually drive performance
Highlights include:
“You cannot improve productivity by measuring and coming up with numbers. We’ve got to improve productivity by lifting how our businesses perform”
“Until one of those reports is written in plain language with a one-pager of concrete actions, SMB leaders won’t find them useful”
“Don’t settle for the BMW, the batch, and the boat; carry on and play for the win”
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Connect with Rob and David on LinkedIn
Learn more about NZ Lean Academy and the mission Rob is on to make NZ the best place in the world to do business
Download David's NBR-featured report "Boosting Productivity in New Zealand SMEs" by joining the mailing list on the Altena Solutions website and start your journey to a more productive business today