Efficience

Efficience is a term used to describe the quality or degree to which a system, process, or action achieves a desired result, often with regard to how well means align with ends. In English, efficience is uncommon and is frequently treated as a synonym for efficiency, though some writers reserve it for a slightly different nuance.

Distinction from efficiency: Efficiency typically refers to the ratio of outputs to inputs and is closely tied to minimizing waste and maximizing productive use of resources. Efficience, when distinguished, can emphasize the success or effectiveness of an action in attaining its objectives, sometimes with less focus on resource costs. In practice, the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, and context or disciplinary convention often determines the intended meaning.

Etymology and usage: Efficience derives from Latin efficientia and entered English via French and later scholarly writing. Today it remains relatively rare in everyday English, but it appears in philosophy, economics, and some European-language translations as a counterpart or alternative to efficiency.

Applications and measurement: In economics and operations research, efficiency is the standard concept for evaluating performance. Efficience may appear in normative or evaluative discussions that stress goal attainment, fit to purpose, or the quality of outcomes. Some discussions juxtapose efficience with robustness, resilience, or adaptability, highlighting trade-offs between achieving aims and maintaining flexibility or cost-effectiveness.

See also: Efficiency, Effectiveness, Productivity, Resource allocation, Performance measurement.