Application
This unit describes the skills required to benchmark performance of a functional area or business unit of an organisation. It includes designing a benchmarking approach, establishing benchmarks, establishing and managing a benchmarking exercise, gathering and analysing information, reporting on and acting on benchmarking outcomes.
This unit applies to those working in generalist and specialist roles within the public sector.
The skills and knowledge described in this unit must be applied within the legislative, regulatory and policy environment in which they are carried out. Organisational policies and procedures must be consulted and adhered to.
Those undertaking this unit would work autonomously, performing complex tasks in a range of familiar contexts.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENTS | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements describe the essential outcomes | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions section. |
1. Design benchmarking approach | 1.1 Confirm the organisation’s core business, functions, and purpose to provide a context for the benchmarking exercise. 1.2 Analyse the organisation’s strategic and organisational context to identify factors with current or future impact on the organisation. 1.3 Establish the scope of the benchmarking exercise and determine objectives, desired outcomes, timeframes and resources. 1.4 Prepare a project plan and have it approved. |
2. Establish benchmarks | 2.1 Identify key result areas for benchmarking in accordance with determined scope and objectives. 2.2 Conduct consultation with key stakeholders to consider and confirm the validity and usefulness of the established benchmarks. 2.3 Confirm benchmarks or make arrangements to develop and/or use them. |
3. Undertake benchmarking exercise | 3.1 Establish and resource staffing arrangements. 3.2 Include consultation, communication with stakeholders and ongoing progress reports as a feature of the management of the exercise to ensure the engagement and cooperation of those people in the areas being benchmarked. 3.3 Manage benchmarking exercise in accordance with timeframes and budgetary constraints. |
4. Gather and analyse information | 4.1 Undertake networking and consultation with staff in the areas to be benchmarked, to gather tacit knowledge. 4.2 Encourage input to ensure outcomes are valid, reliable and useful for improving performance. 4.3 Gather organisational data, collate with information from consultation and analyse against benchmarks. 4.4 Discuss benchmarking findings with staff and management, and incorporate feedback into final results. |
5. Report on and/or act on benchmarking outcomes | 5.1 Write and present benchmarking report to meet audience needs. 5.2 Identify areas of excellence, strengths and recommendations for improvement in the report. 5.3 Develop a strategy for phased implementation of recommendations when required. 5.4 Preserve and store research information to provide historical data for subsequent benchmarking exercises. 5.5 Act upon and/or implement benchmarking outcome recommendations. |
Evidence of Performance
Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria. If not otherwise specified the candidate must demonstrate evidence of performance of the following on at least one occasion.
applying legislation, regulations and policies relating to benchmarking
planning and managing projects
interpreting organisational information
consulting with diverse stakeholders
writing recommendations and reports requiring formality of expression
Evidence of Knowledge
Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria. If not otherwise specified the depth of knowledge demonstrated must be appropriate to the job context of the candidate.
public sector legislation including WHS and environment, regulations, policies, procedures and guidelines relating to benchmarking
principles of benchmarking performance
organisational structure and functions, systems and processes
public sector standards including ethics and security relating to organisational information
project management
Assessment Conditions
This unit contains no specific industry-mandated assessment conditions. Guidance on suggested and recommended conditions and methods can be found in the Implementation Guide.
Assessors must satisfy the NVR/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.
Foundation Skills
Foundation skills are embedded within the elements and performance criteria of this unit.
Competency Field
General