Definitions matter.

The meaning of 'execute' depends on whether the subject is software, a project, or a person. To execute software, press 'run'. To execute a project, use project management skills to complete many tasks - otherwise, get a gun.

Same with productivity.

Productive is defined as producing or able to produce large amounts of goods or other commodities.

Note there's no requirement to actually do the right thing. You can be productive by doing a lot of the wrong thing. Hence, Peter Drucker's quote, "The most useless thing of all is doing something that didn't need to be done."

You can also be productive doing the right thing, but in the wrong way.

Even seen photos of a bridge built from two ends that didn't meet in the middle? Building the bridge was the right thing, and they beavered away each day. But the end result was a total waste.

Productivity can also be a hindrance.

Edison found ten thousand ways not to create a lightbulb. Was any of that productive? Only in hindsight.

Try telling your boss you're going to find ten thousand ways not to write a report.

Levity aside, when solving problems, focusing on productivity will make you choose the easy problems - but the hard problems will create greater value. So don't start with productive. Start with effective.

Effective is successful in producing a desired or intended result.

And to work out what's effective you need to identify the intended outcome - that is, the right thing. Only then can you consider being productive. This is Kristoffer's Golden Rule: Be effective in the most productive way.

To do this:

1. Identify the intended outcome

2. Identify the activities that would achieve the intended outcome.

3. Identify how to complete those activities in the least time, at the least cost, or with the least effort.

Productivity comes third.