Compare the whole task.
Turn a fast-looking output into a time comparison you can explain.
You need: a representative task, a timer, and a definition of a usable result.
Output: a comparison of setup, execution, and correction time.
Cost: this worksheet and calculator are free. Any software you choose to test may have its own costs.
1. Define the finish line
Choose a task you already do, such as turning meeting notes into a checked action list. Write down what makes the output usable: correct names, owners, dates, and no missing commitments. Use synthetic or non-sensitive inputs.
2. Time your current method
Record preparation, execution, and correction separately. Stop the timer when the result meets your definition, not when the first draft appears. Keep a record of problems you had to fix.
3. Repeat with the new approach
Use comparable inputs and the same finish line. Include configuration and correction. Repeat tasks before treating an initial result as typical. If setup is reusable, compare the same batch size or allocate it across the same number of tasks.
4. Compare the totals
Enter the timings in the calculator. The example below is synthetic and demonstrates the arithmetic, not the performance of a product.
| Method | Setup | Execution | Correction | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current | 5 | 30 | 10 | 45 |
| New | 15 | 5 | 15 | 35 |
The new approach produces its first output faster, but saves only 10 minutes across the whole task in this example. Increase its correction time to 30 minutes and it takes 50 minutes overall, five minutes longer than the current method.
5. Make a bounded decision
A shorter total is useful only if the output is acceptable. Record accuracy, privacy constraints, reliability, and recurring costs in the full evaluation worksheet. Your conclusion can be to keep testing, change the workflow, or stay with your current method.