This is the 14468th most frequent German word.
kontraproduktiv
Counterproductive: having the opposite effect of what was intended or desired.
The term 'kontraproduktiv' is used here to describe an action (tightening working conditions) that produced effects opposite to the intended productive outcome.
Die Entscheidung, die Arbeitsbedingungen zu verschärfen, war kontraproduktiv.
The decision to tighten working conditions was counterproductive.
Here, 'kontraproduktiv' highlights a hypothetical scenario where achieving one goal (lowering costs) negatively affects another goal (maintaining quality).
Es wäre kontraproduktiv, wenn wir unsere Kosten senken, aber die Qualität darunter leidet.
It would be counterproductive if we lower our costs but the quality suffers as a result.
In this case, the word describes an approach to a task (approach to the project) that seems to hinder rather than help achieve the project's goals.