Process Benchmarking
The challenge
In the past few years there has been a demand to develop an approach to process benchmarking through the Scottish Advisory Groups. Process benchmarking is a way to look beyond the data, identifying specific areas of performance to examine in more depth and to tease out the different processes/activities that took place across different councils. Whilst it is not necessary for the various groups to engage APSE to progress process benchmarking, experience has shown that without the consultancy input such projects tend to grind to a halt early on due to a lack of resources, which is why these groups have opted for a consultancy project.
Our approach
The APSE Associate Consultant drafts questionnaires around specific topics chosen by the participating authorities, these are then discussed and agreed. Following ratification they are issued to the participants by the Associate Consultant, thereafter the information provided is collated and analysed by the Associate Consultant who will lodge a final report on the performance networks members' only web portal of the APSE web site.
The reports are discussed at benchmarking meetings that follow on from the Advisory Groups. At these meetings any issues for follow-up and or clarification along with the next tranche of topics are identified and a decision made as to whether the groups themselves or the Associate Consultant will progress the identified issues.
It is at this point that post project support for any non-finite projects is offered to participating authorities by APSE’s Performance Networks and an opportunity is given to the groups to decide on any topics they wish to have reviewed on an annual basis through the PN templates.
Our expertise
APSE has undertaken a number of different process benchmarking groups in a number of areas including building maintenance, parks, grounds and street cleansing, roads and street lighting, waste and recycling. With the benefit of the established benchmarking service which APSE provides through Performance Networks, APSE consultants have the necessary knowledge to facilitate process benchmarking groups
More information on the skills of our associates can be found by clicking here.
More information
Briefings
- 'Using performance networks in the new national frameworks across the devolved governments' Briefing 11/58, October 2011
- Communities and Local Government Committee: Fourth Report - The future audit and inspection of local authorities and performance management issues Briefing 11/41, August 2011
Performance networks
Performance networks is a mature benchmarking service which allows for effective performance measurement across a range of vitally important front-line public services with 12 years of performance data available. Click here for further information
Our other offers
For information about other APSE consultancy offers, please use the links below.