Last night in my management class:

The teacher is talking about the difference between “efficience” and “efficacité”. “Efficacité” is getting from point A to point B in the simplest, quickest way possible, regardless of cost and resources required. “Efficience” is getting there in the quickest and simplest way possible, but taking into account constraints like budget and resources. In other words, the best possible solution under the circumstances.

To illustrate this, she draws point A and point B, and makes a straight line between both. She says, “this illustrates ‘efficacité’”.

Then, she draws point A and point B again, and makes a curvy line between both. She says, “this illustrates ‘efficience’”.

A student raises her hand and says, “I still don’t understand. All this talk of point A and point B. Could you please give us a definition of points A and B?”