Benchmarking systems in construction: A prototype tool for system selection

Construction organizations have historically had difficulty in accomodating change and installing new enhanced business performance systems. The contemporary management tools which facilitate change and improvement often appear complex and not readily understood, as reviewed and highlighted by the concept of benchmarking. The aim is to firstly investigate the benchmarking concept and assess its applicability. to construction. Then in addition design a prototype management decision matrix to select and apply the optimum benchmarking technique to address specific, unique organizational objectives. The primarary research areas of the paper are a representative sample of the initial literature review and subsequent contemporary benchmarking proprietary systems. This furnished the researcher with the required underpinning knowledge to critically compare and contrast benchmarking systems through a set of formulated criteria that influence the selection of systems appropriate to medium sized construction organizations. The research methodology adopted is succinctly illustrated in an accompaning flow chart. A sample of construction organziations presently involved in benchmarking were interviewed to provide the researcher with an insight into contemporary benchmarking within the industry. Encouragingly the findings from the survey found that 84% of construction organizations would have been interested in a management decision matrix to facilitate selection of the appropriate benchmarking techniques whilst they were investigating the opportunity to benchmark. In addition, an industrial collaborator was involved with the design and pilot testing of the management decision matrix. The paper culminates with conclusions and recommendations for the future vision and development of benchmarking within the construction industry.