National Standards Benchmarking for Management

Benchmarking is the process of comparing performance with a recognised standard of excellence. Managers need to know why and how internal practices produce exceptional results. This is done by measuring performance against known high performance standards.

Organisations may measure their performance against the standards set by known World Class Performers. For individual managers this is done by comparing Management Performance with that drawn up in the National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Standards for Management. Performance Criteria and Knowledge and Understanding are specified for Competent Management Performance at each NVQ Level 2, 3, 4 and 5.

Many organisations, and also many managers, perform the core business activities routinely and, in many cases, this is sufficient for the business to continue operating. Often, the factors which make for business excellence such as planning, negotiating and monitoring work activities are trivialised preventing the achievement of full business potential.

Benchmarking can yield benefits in the development of managers and operational performance and help identify areas of strategic opportunity. The determination of Benchmarks allows organisations and individuals to identify their objectives and answers the question "where are we going".

The Benchmark Interview allows the Manager to compare current roles, responsibilities and performance with the individual Elements of Competence from the NVQ Standards. In this way strengths, and also areas for development, may be identified. The measurement is not intended as a good-manager bad-manager assessment but designed to focus on areas of support and development to improve performance.

The Benchmark Report scores performance against the NVQ Standard at the appropriate level

(2,3,4,5) in Graphical Form and identifies areas for future development for each manager in the report,

John Swift(Director)