National productivity comparisons are cause for alarm for policymakers. Australia is behind in some critical areas, including its capacity to innovate, competitive advantage and business sophistication. And the “brain drain” of talented Australians has been noted by the World Economic Forum. But a new federally funded research project is identifying what’s holding back productivity levels in Australian companies and uncovering ways to improve their performance. It’s a big picture issue, but responsibility for ramping up productivity does not rest with chief executives alone. Chief financial officers and human resources managers are important influencers in more productive cultures.