There is nothing that can wreck a well‐intentioned benchmarking plan faster than selecting the wrong people for the team. Take the company that chose staff members who didn't have…
Abstract
There is nothing that can wreck a well‐intentioned benchmarking plan faster than selecting the wrong people for the team. Take the company that chose staff members who didn't have enough credibility within the organization to sell their benchmarking team's recommendations to senior management. The team did an excellent job, but without the clout to get their recommendations approved, their efforts failed.
Mohamed Zairi and Mohamed Youssef
Reviews the first three of 11 key books on benchmarking with theaim of assisting in the educational and training processes in companiesembarking on or launching a benchmarking…
Abstract
Reviews the first three of 11 key books on benchmarking with the aim of assisting in the educational and training processes in companies embarking on or launching a benchmarking project.
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Yewande Adetoro Adewunmi, Hikmot Koleoso and Modupe Omirin
The purpose of this paper is to examine benchmarking barriers among Nigerian facilities management (FM) practitioners.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine benchmarking barriers among Nigerian facilities management (FM) practitioners.
Design/methodology/approach
Data collection were through semi-structured interviews with 34 FM heads from three selected cities in Nigeria. Out of this number, 16 were from Lagos, ten from Abuja while eight managers were from Port Harcourt, respectively. These managers were selected using purposive sampling based on their experience in the field of FM across the various sectors of the economy. The interviews were analysed with Nvivo 10 software qualitative computer software.
Findings
Those that do informal benchmarking face challenges with data, employees lack of confidence in new initiatives and poor support of senior management, the companies that use best practice benchmarking face constraints of access to information and employees unwillingness to change and comply to company set standards, unwillingness of benchmarking partners to understand the usefulness of the project, and problems that emanate from the quality of data obtained.
Practical implications
The results therefore suggest that to improve the practice of best practice benchmarking there is need to improve both quantity and quality of data for the exercise and enhance standard practice.
Originality/value
The study established a new category of benchmarking barriers called the market category of benchmarking barriers and further distinguished benchmarking barriers based on two forms of benchmarking which is informal and formal benchmarking. Also there are limited studies on benchmarking barriers in developing countries.
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Eliza Tse and Michael D. Olsen
In today′s complex and competitive environment, strategicmanagement becomes the primary means of adapting organisations to theirchanging environment. For firms in the maturing…
Abstract
In today′s complex and competitive environment, strategic management becomes the primary means of adapting organisations to their changing environment. For firms in the maturing hospitality industry to survive and grow, they will have to depend on their ability to align themselves strategically with the turbulent environment and select appropriate strategies to create defendable competitive positions. The findings of a nationwide study which was conducted to extend Porter′s framework of business strategy to the service industry by exploring the level of strategic management in restaurant firms in the United States are given. Companies′ emphasis in resource allocation in various competitive methods, and the nature of the relationship between strategy and structure are also examined.
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Ronald McGaughey, Victor Puleo and K. Michael Casey
The purpose of this research paper is to provide practitioners and researchers with guidance and ideas for benchmarking employee benefits in companies providing professional…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this research paper is to provide practitioners and researchers with guidance and ideas for benchmarking employee benefits in companies providing professional services. The research addressed employee benefits in multi‐owner accounting firms.
Design/methodology/approach
Data from a survey of a large number of multi‐owner accounting firms (CPA firms) were analyzed to examine professional employee benefits and to look at the relationship between firm size and benefits offered.
Findings
An analysis of survey results suggested that larger firms offer better benefits than smaller firms. Larger firms tend also to be more profitable. Various employee benefit metrics were examined.
Research limitations/implications
The survey was limited to accounting firms in the United States, so the findings may have limited value for researchers and practitioners in other countries.
Practical implications
The better benefits offered by larger accounting firms may allow them to attract better personnel, possibly accounting for their greater profitability. If this is indeed true, then a good benefit package may well be a key success factor for accounting firms, and possibly for other professional services. Firms seeking to improve their competitive position may, therefore, find it advantageous to benchmark their professional employee benefits against the benefit packages of larger more profitable competitors.
Originality/value
This paper examines professional employee benefits in multi‐owner accounting firms and identifies metrics that could be useful to practitioners in benchmarking those benefits. The metrics identified and other findings may provide practitioners with ideas for benchmarking benefits in other professional service organizations.
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Dag Øivind Madsen, Kåre Slåtten and Daniel Johanson
The purpose of this paper is to make a contribution to the benchmarking literature by examining the historical emergence and evolution of benchmarking using the management fashion…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to make a contribution to the benchmarking literature by examining the historical emergence and evolution of benchmarking using the management fashion perspective as a theoretical lens.
Design/methodology/approach
The research approach followed in this paper can be characterized as explorative and theoretical. Insights from different data sources have been combined to provide a rich description of the emergence and evolution of benchmarking.
Findings
This analysis casts new light on several aspects of benchmarking’s emergence and evolution pattern. The characteristics of the benchmarking idea give it potential as a fashionable management tool. The widespread popularity and longevity of benchmarking can to a large extent be explained by the efforts of various actors to turn benchmarking into an institution.
Research limitations/implications
The paper is explorative and is limited by a reliance on secondary sources.
Originality/value
Although some researchers have noted that benchmarking could be viewed as a management fashion, management fashion theory has, only to a very limited extent, been used as a theoretical lens in the context of benchmarking. This research paper demonstrates that management fashion theory can provide valuable insights for research on benchmarking.
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Nizar Mohammad Alsharari and Mohammed S. Aljohani
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of environmental and cultural factors on the benchmarking implementation process and management control within…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of environmental and cultural factors on the benchmarking implementation process and management control within organizations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). By exploring the complex interplay of these factors, the study aims to uncover how environmental considerations and cultural dynamics shape the effectiveness and outcomes of benchmarking initiatives in the UAE's unique business environment. The research seeks to provide valuable insights for organizations in the UAE to optimize their benchmarking practices and enhance their overall performance and competitiveness.
Design/methodology/approach
The study adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative methods to comprehensively explore the influence of environmental and cultural factors on benchmarking implementation and management control in the UAE. This study draws on the integration of two main theoretical perspectives: institutional theory and contingency theory. This is the first attempt to integrate these different frameworks in a single study. The study presents a case study of Emirates Industrial City (EIC), which has been recognized by global industries for boosting efficiency, cost control, quality and overall operations. The quality method known as benchmarking maximizes the potential for organizations to achieve optimal levels of production efficiency.
Findings
This paper provides compelling evidence that the benchmarking implementation process and management control in the UAE are significantly influenced by the complex interplay of environmental and cultural factors. By recognizing the importance of environmental sustainability and cultural values in guiding benchmarking practices, UAE organizations can optimize their performance and competitiveness. The findings contribute valuable insights to the existing literature, offering practical implications for UAE organizations seeking to leverage benchmarking as a strategic tool for growth and continuous improvement. The findings reveal that UAE organizations incorporating environmental considerations into benchmarking practices demonstrate a proactive approach to sustainability, aligning their goals with eco-friendly practices. Cultural influences, including a culture of collaboration and openness to external learning, contribute to successful benchmarking adoption and knowledge sharing. Moreover, the study highlights that the integration of benchmarking outcomes into the management control process positively correlates with organizational performance. UAE organizations that leverage benchmarking data for decision-making and performance evaluation exhibit higher levels of competitiveness and efficiency.
Research limitations/implications
This paper has important implications for organizations in the UAE seeking to optimize their benchmarking practices and management control. The study's findings can guide organizations in aligning their benchmarking efforts with environmental sustainability goals and cultural values to enhance performance and competitiveness. Understanding the influence of environmental and cultural factors on benchmarking adoption and implementation allows organizations to foster a benchmarking culture that embraces knowledge sharing and learning. Managers can tailor their approaches to accommodate cultural nuances and enhance the effectiveness of benchmarking initiatives.
Originality/value
This paper contributes to the existing body of knowledge in several ways. Integrated approach: By examining the complex interplay of environmental and cultural factors, this study takes an integrated approach of institutional and contingency theories to understanding their influence on benchmarking implementation and management control. It offers a comprehensive view of how these factors interact to shape organizational practices and outcomes. UAE context: The study focuses specifically on the UAE, providing insights into benchmarking practices within the unique environmental and cultural context of the nation. This research addresses a gap in the literature by examining the influence of these factors in a distinct business environment.
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Michael G. Sternbeck and Heinrich Kuhn
The purpose of this paper is to identify and describe similarities between logistics structures and mid-term planning problems in the grocery retail and automotive industries in a…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify and describe similarities between logistics structures and mid-term planning problems in the grocery retail and automotive industries in a specific internal section of their respective supply chains.
Design/methodology/approach
The benchmarking approach is used as a framework for this paper. It is based on insights resulting from several joint projects with grocery retailers and automobile producers. A particular focus of the research was participating in an exchange of ideas and experience between logistics managers in both industry sectors.
Findings
The authors have identified parallels when comparing the internal retail supply chain of the grocery retail industry, which consists of distribution centres, transportation and in-store logistics, with the internal logistics network in the automotive industry, which consists of logistics supermarkets, transportation and work zone operations at the assembly line. Strong similarities have been found for three planning problems related to tactical planning tasks: assigning products and parts to delivery modes, selecting packaging units and loading carriers, and determining delivery cycles. In comparison to retailing, there is a clearer trend in the automotive industry to plan line-back and align processes with the operator's requirements at the assembly line.
Practical implications
For logisticians in grocery retailing and the automotive industry, this paper provides relevant input for functional benchmarking initiatives and offers an inspirational view beyond the horizon.
Originality/value
This paper is the first to focus on similarities in logistics network structures and planning tasks between the two industries from the viewpoint of grocery retailing.
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R. Glenn Richey, Stefan E. Genchev and Patricia J. Daugherty
Aims to provide empirical evidence of the relationships between and among reverse logistics, resource commitment, and innovation.
Abstract
Purpose
Aims to provide empirical evidence of the relationships between and among reverse logistics, resource commitment, and innovation.
Design/methodology/approach
Mail surveys were sent to members of the Automobile Aftermarket Industry Association, a large trade association. Factor level results followed by between‐item results, as typically reported in general linear modeling and mediated regression, are developed using a split sample methodology. Ultimately, Resource‐Advantage Theory provided the framework for examining the impact of developing innovative reverse logistics‐related dynamic capabilities.
Findings
Resource commitment makes reverse logistics programs more efficient and more effective. However, the resources must be used in such a manner as to develop innovative capabilities/approaches to handling returns. Resource commitment was not found to be significantly related to innovation in reverse logistics at smaller firms. This is likely to be related to the level of resources available. Larger firms can commit greater resources and, thus, enjoy superior performance compared with smaller firms in the survey group.
Research limitations/implications
The focus is somewhat narrow. New research should extend beyond the one industry examined. Future research should also expand to include more members of the supply chain and employ methods that allow examination of network relationships.
Practical implications
Reverse logistics deserves special attention in terms of resource commitment. Resources related to labor, i.e. allocating sufficient personnel to reverse logistics programs, are especially critical. Innovation in reverse logistics programs was found to be related to operational service quality at both small and large firms.
Originality/value
The research provides empirical evidence of the relationships between resource commitment and innovation – and how reverse logistics program performance is influenced. This has important implications with respect to customer relations. It can also be used to provide rationale for securing adequate resource commitment for reverse logistics programs.
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Patricia J. Daugherty, Haozhe Chen and Bruce G. Ferrin
The purpose of this paper is to examine how organizational structural factors (namely decentralization, formalization, and specialization) influence a firm's logistics service…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine how organizational structural factors (namely decentralization, formalization, and specialization) influence a firm's logistics service innovation capability and firm performance.
Design/methodology/approach
A conceptual model is proposed combining the Strategy‐Structure‐Performance framework and the Resource‐Based View of the firm. Empirical survey data were collected in the Chinese electronics manufacturing industry, and structural equation modeling is performed to assess measures and test the hypothesized relationships.
Findings
In the current research context, both decentralization and formalization were found to be positively related to a firm's logistics service innovation capability, although the formalization was originally proposed to have negative impact on logistics service innovation capability. However, specialization was not a significant predictor according to our results. A positive relationship between logistics service innovation capability and market performance is also confirmed.
Research limitations/implications
In order to improve the validity of the study by eliminating external factors, the study was conducted in a single industry in one country. Therefore, study results should be interpreted and applied with caution, and future research should replicate the tests in different contexts or extend the current study by including other relevant factors.
Practical implications
At a time when market environment is extremely competitive and unstable and service becomes a key differentiator, it is critical for firms to better understand and manage controllable internal factors, organizational structure in this context, to enhance service innovation capability, thus achieving better performance.
Originality/value
This study makes a contribution to the limited yet important knowledge base regarding logistics service innovation.