Benchmarking is a well established and respected mechanism that contributes
to organisational improvement. Its epistemology demonstrates it to be
theoretically underdetermined with literature focusing on pragmatism and
praxis. Benchmarking's critics hold it to be a-theoretical; failing to provide its
practitioners with a reliable basis for distinguishing between effective and
ineffective efforts.
The purpose of this thesis is to review Benchmarking's epistemology and identify the necessary or
sufficient methodological elements contributing to its effectiveness and to
establish them within an acceptable theoretical framework.
A causal approach is applied to the objectives of organisational
benchmarking's current definitions and implementation frameworks. The
resulting theoretical framework is then validated against current exemplary
benchmarking praxis to explain its effectiveness and satisfy historical
criticisms. Central to the approach is the application of supervenience and
entailment relationships between benchmarking parties within the umbrella of
Peircean Causation to determine the feasibility of a benchmarking proposition.
Benchmarking's a priori effectiveness (sufficiency) can be established from an
organisational axiom and five logical conditions. This research establishes a
new encompassing definition of benchmarking reduces its typology to a single
consistent form and establishes an Effective Benchmarking Process that
explains current practices and addresses historical criticisms. These logical
conditions also explain the effectiveness of empirical frameworks such as the
Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and ISO 9000.
A theoretical foundation for benchmarking provides a platform for extending the theory of organisational improvement. It also has significant potential to enhance organisational sustainability by reducing wasted effort.
This research focuses on the causal linkages between benchmarking and
organisational sustainability. The research establishes a new definition of
benchmarking, specifies necessary and sufficient conditions for its application
and frames practitioner efforts within an Effective Benchmarking Process
(EBP).[Show full abstract]
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