1. Irish Productivity Centre PHARE Business Support Project Practical Issues to Consider When Planning a Benchmarking Visit Norbert Gallagher, Vincent Steadman, Colin Mc Glynn, Teresa Hanratty, John Corrigan Tel. +353 1 8227125 HTTP: www.ipc.ie Working with our clients to improve business performance

2. Irish Productivity Centre PHARE Business Support Project Benchmarking is… Benchmarking is the continuous process of measuring products, services and practices against the toughest competitors or those companies recognised as industry leaders (David Kearns, CEO, Xerox Corp.) Benchmarking is the search for industry best practices that lead to superior performance Tel. +353 1 8227125 HTTP: www.ipc.ie

3. Irish Productivity Centre PHARE Business Support Project Benchmarking is… A process as opposed to a task Continuous because the environment keeps changing Includes measurement both inside and outside the company Looks at products, services and practices not just aimed at competitive analysis Tel. +353 1 8227125 HTTP: www.ipc.ie

4. Irish Productivity Centre PHARE Business Support Project Benchmark Planning Preparation Design the Template Establish Language Human Resource and Access Strategies Define Key areas of interest Design initial/Specialist Inputs Confirm Learning Objectives Case Study/Role Play/Dry Run Tel. +353 1 8227125 HTTP: www.ipc.ie Direct Experience Real Examples Operational Issues Leading Edge Practices Similar Sector Among the Team on the Road Within their Professional Group With Others Locally/Nationally Programme for Benchmarking Abroad Diffusion

5. Irish Productivity Centre PHARE Business Support Project Benchmark Planning Planning Phase 1.Identify what is to be benchmarked 2.Identify comparative companies 3.Determine data collection methods Tel. +353 1 8227125 HTTP: www.ipc.ie 4.Determine current performance “gap’’ 5.Project future performance levels 6.Communicate benchmarking findings and gain acceptance 7.Establish functional goals Analysis Phase Integration Phase Action Phase 8.Develop action plans 9.Implement specific actions and monitor progress 10.Recalibrate benchmarks Return to Step 1

6. Irish Productivity Centre PHARE Business Support Project Strategy for Analysis of Critical Issues Tel. +353 1 8227125 HTTP: www.ipc.ie Business Confederation Trade Union Confederation Cultural Considerations Political Context and History Role of the Social Partners Structure and Ideology Are key issues/learning transplantable? Role and strategy Social democratic/neo- liberal

7. Irish Productivity Centre PHARE Business Support Project … learning from others in a global community Lean Production Investment intensity Fixed vs. liquid assets Capacity utilisation Productivity Make vs. buy Market Attractiveness Growth Concentration Innovation Customer power Logistical complexity Competitive Strength Market Share Relative Share Relative Quality Patents Customer Coverage Performance Hands-on Excellence Lean organisation Participative culture Incentives Training New vs. old hands Measuring and Improving your Business Profile… Tel. +353 1 8227125 HTTP: www.ipc.ie

8. Irish Productivity Centre PHARE Business Support Project Trade Union Context Density Coverage Representation Vertical Horizontal Open Closed Adversarial Co-operative Ideology Level at which bargaining takes place Power at or away from the point of production Degree of influence within society Tel. +353 1 8227125 HTTP: www.ipc.ie

9. Irish Productivity Centre PHARE Business Support Project Employer Context Idology of confederation Size and Influence Level at which bargaining takes place National Industry Local Single Employer Multi-Employer Tel. +353 1 8227125 HTTP: www.ipc.ie

10. Irish Productivity Centre PHARE Business Support Project Chronology of Events Be precise about what you want to benchmark Who needs to be involved? Can you make contact with host organisation? Can you gain access? Tel. +353 1 8227125 HTTP: www.ipc.ie What training is required prior to visit? Do visitors know what to look for? Flights, hotels, transfers, contact names, gifts, protocol Who should travel? How will learning be internalised? How will learning be transferred? What are the critical implementation issues? Measure, improve, evaluate, re-measure