INTRODUCTION:

Benchmarking is comparing an aspect of something with another that is best and following it for the purpose of improvement.

For instances students benchmark themselves with other students to improve their performance, Parents benchmark their child’s mark sheet with that of the other kids, Sportsmen benchmark their present performance with their previous performance (benchmarking with oneself).

The term benchmarking was first used by cobblers to measure people's feet for shoes (placing someone's foot on a "bench" and mark it out to make the pattern for the shoes).

This Benchmarking when applied to organizations (eg. institutions, companies etc) makes comparison with other organizations which helps to find gaps and adapt their specific best practices, with the aim of increasing performance.

Definition

Organization-to-organization comparisons of how well basic functions and processes are performed

Benchmarking is a process of comparing one’s process, program, institution or companies or its products, services, and practices against its competitors or the best in the field.

Goals

• Quantify gaps between the benchmarker's performance and world-class performance.

• Identify world-class performance levels.

• Identify best practices in key business processes;

• Share knowledge of best practices.

• Build foundations for performance improvement

• It welcomes innovation and upliftment of nursing.

• Staff student and institution development

Types of benchmarking

Internal - a comparison of internal practices regarding particular nursing interventions.

Strategic - observing how others compete.

Functional - comparisons of similar functions within the institution, or to people involved.

Generic – comparisons of nursing interventions that are very similar but irrelevant to nursing

Steps:

Phase 1: Position analysis and identifies any gaps between the benchmarker's performance and that of "best-in-class" organization

Position analysis can be assessed by following questions

1. Where are we now?

2. Where do we want to be?

3. How do we get there?

4. Why are others better?

5. How are others better?

6. What can we learn?

7. How can we catch up?

8. How will we measure progress?

9. How will we deploy and integrate this plan across the organization?

10. How can we become the best in our sector?

Step 1: Preparation and planning. As with any other project, thorough preparation and planning are essential at the outset. Recognize the need for benchmarking, determine the methodology you're going to use, and identify the competitors.

Step 2: Data collection. In this step we collect data that help us to conclude in what way others performance are better and it provides the detailed information about the competitor practice.

Step 3: Data analysis. The key activities here are the validation of the collected data to establish its accuracy and completeness.

Step 4: Reporting. The analysis must then be reported in a clear, concise, and easily understood format via an appropriate medium.

Phase 2: Learning from best practices

Step 5: Establishing Learning from best practices. In this step, the top-performing organizations share the best practices, to the mutual benefit of all of the benchmarkers. Of course, when some of the benchmarkers are true competitors, the options for sharing may be limited, and alternative approaches may be required to establish learning.

Step 6: Planning and implementing improvement actions. The learning points should feed into the organization's strategic plan and should be implemented via its performance improvement processes.

Step 7: Institutionalizing learning. The insights that you've gained and the performance improvements that you've achieved must be fully embedded within the organization. Benchmarking can take place at the corporate, operational, or functional levels of the organization. Make sure that these levels are linked via a cascading series of interlinked goals to ensure systematic progress toward the vision.

Dimensions influenced by benchmarking in nursing education

Technology Support

(Orientation to online learning & technology, ongoing technical Support)

Learning Environment

(Access, networking, collaborative, interactive, student centered)

Student Behaviors

(Active learning, interactive, participation in discussions, faculty student interaction and exam pass rates.)

Education Practices

(Educational materials & design, faculty preparation, feedback, curriculum alignment)

Management Practices

(Growth of institution, customer satisfaction, admission to an institution, management change)

Success

1. Management commitment

2. Strong network of personal contacts and an open mind to new ideas are other keys

3. A well-trained team of people in order for the process to work accurately and efficiently

4. Time and staff, and complete understanding of the processes

5. A continuous improvement strategy.

6. Considers not only the output, but also the process by which the output is obtained.

CONCLUSIONS:

Thus benchmarking is an excellent tool that could be incorporated in the field of nursing by which a nurse can make progress in patient care, hospital management and enhancing the standards of nursing education, nursing organizations.

REFERENCES:

1. Sujatha S. Benchmarking. Nightingale Nursing Times. 8(5); 2009:37-38, 50.

2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/benchmarking, last accessed 14/6/2012.

3. http://tutor2u.net/business/strategy/benchmarking.htm, last accessed 15/6/2012.

4. http://businessfinancemag.com/files/juran7steplarge.gif, last accessed 14/6/2012.

5. http://www.change_management_toolbook.com/medbook/view.php?id=7&chapterid=66, last accessed 15/6/2012.

Received on 27.07.2012 Modified on 20.09.2012

Asian J. Nur. Edu. and Research 2(4): Oct-Dec. 2012; Page 173-174