Washington, Aug 5 - A firm may not be able to afford the latest software or computers. But that may not impair the productivity of the workers, concludes a new study.

More important than the tools themselves is the belief in their effectiveness, says management specialist Dov Eden, professor at the Tel Aviv University (TAU) faculty of management.

'It was well documented with the M16 rifle in the Vietnam War,' said Eden.

'If the M16 fails a soldier and the other soldiers in the unit find out about it, commanders see high rates of demoralisation and poor combat performance in that unit,' he said.

'While offices and factories aren't exactly war zones, we've learned from this new study that the faith individuals have in their tools may be just as important as the tools themselves.'

Eden's advice may spare a vulnerable company the costs of expensive technology upgrades in these tough economic times or help companies smoothly transition through mergers.

Eden and colleagues split a group of 240 physics students in half.