PSPGOV518A
Benchmark performance

This unit covers benchmarking 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 and reporting on/acting on benchmarking outcomes.In practice, benchmarking performance may overlap with other generalist or specialist public sector work activities such as acting ethically, complying with legislation, providing client service, leading a group, developing policy, etc. No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication

Application

Not applicable.


Prerequisites

Not applicable.


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Design benchmarking approach

1.1 The organisation's core business, functions, and purpose are confirmed to provide a context for the benchmarking exercise.

1.2 The organisation's strategic and organisational context is analysed to identify factors with current or future impact on the organisation.

1.3 The scope of the benchmarking exercise is established and objectives, desired outcomes, timeframes and resources are determined.

1.4 A benchmarking approach is designed in accordance with the scope, desired objectives/outcomes and available resources.

1.5 A project plan is prepared and approved in accordance with organisational policy and procedures.

2. Establish benchmarks

2.1 Key result areas are identified for benchmarking in accordance with determined scope and objectives.

2.2 Research is conducted to establish the benchmarks to be used for the measurement of organisational performance.

2.3 Consultation to consider and confirm the validity and usefulness of the benchmarks is conducted with key stakeholders.

2.4 Benchmarks are confirmed and obtained, or arrangements made to develop/use them in accordance with legislation, standards, policies and guidelines.

3. Establish and manage benchmarking exercise

3.1 Staffing arrangements are established and resourced in accordance with project plan.

3.2 Consultation, communication with stakeholders and ongoing progress reports are included 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 Benchmarking exercise is managed in accordance with timeframes and budgetary constraints.

4. Gather and analyse information

4.1 Networking and consultation are undertaken with staff in the areas to be benchmarked, to gather tacit knowledge.

4.2 Encouragement of open and honest input is provided to ensure outcomes are valid, reliable and useful for improving performance.

4.3 Organisational data is gathered, collated with information from consultation and analysed against benchmarks in accordance with the project plan.

4.4 Benchmarking findings are discussed with staff and management, and feedback is incorporated into final results.

5. Report on/act on benchmarking outcomes

5.1 Benchmarking report is written to meet audience needs and is presented in accordance with organisational requirements.

5.2 Areas of excellence/strengths and recommendations for improvement are identified in the report in accordance with pre-determined objectives and outcomes.

5.3 When required, a strategy is developed for phased implementation of recommendations that meet organisational requirements.

5.4 Research information is preserved and stored in accordance with organisational and security requirements to provide historical data for subsequent benchmarking exercises.

5.5 Benchmarking outcomes are acted upon/recommendations implemented in accordance with organisational requirements.

Required Skills

This section describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit.

Skill requirements

Look for evidence that confirms skills in:

applying legislation, regulations and policies relating to benchmarking

planning and managing projects

collecting, recording and collating information

undertaking research and analysis

using records management systems

interpreting organisational information

communicating/consulting with a range of diverse stakeholders

responding to diversity, including gender and disability

writing recommendations and reports requiring formality of expression

using numeracy skills for data analysis

applying procedures relating to occupational health and safety and environment in the context of benchmarking

Knowledge requirements

Look for evidence that confirms knowledge and understanding of:

legislation, 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

equal employment opportunity, equity and diversity principles

public sector legislation such as occupational health and safety and environment in the context of benchmarking

Evidence Required

The Evidence Guide specifies the evidence required to demonstrate achievement in the unit of competency as a whole. It must be read in conjunction with the Unit descriptor, Performance Criteria, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Public Sector Training Package.

Units to be assessed together

Pre-requisite units that must be achieved prior to this unit:Nil

Co-requisite units that must be assessed with this unit:Nil

Co-assessed units that may be assessed with this unit to increase the efficiency and realism of the assessment process include, but are not limited to:

PSPETHC501B Promote the values and ethos of public service

PSPIM503A Maintain and monitor service standards

PSPGOV503B Coordinate resource allocation and usage

PSPGOV504B Undertake research and analysis

PSPGOV505A Promote diversity

PSPGOV507A Undertake negotiations

PSPGOV508A Manage conflict

PSPGOV511A Provide leadership

PSPGOV512A Use complex workplace communication strategies

PSPGOV517A Coordinate risk management

PSPLEGN501B Promote compliance with legislation in the public sector

PSPPM502B Manage complex projects

PSPSEC502A Develop security risk management plans

Overview of evidence requirements

In addition to integrated demonstration of the elements and their related performance criteria, look for evidence that confirms:

the knowledge requirements of this unit

the skill requirements of this unit

application of Employability Skills as they relate to this unit

performance benchmarked in a range of (3 or more) contexts (or occasions, over time)

Resources required to carry out assessment

These resources include:

legislation, policy, procedures and protocols relating to benchmarking

industry best practice standards for benchmarks

access to similar organisations/areas/functions for comparison

case studies and workplace scenarios to capture the range of situations likely to be encountered when benchmarking performance

Where and how to assess evidence

Valid assessment of this unit requires:

a workplace environment or one that closely resembles normal work practice and replicates the range of conditions likely to be encountered when benchmarking performance, including coping with difficulties, irregularities and breakdowns in routine

performance benchmarked in a range of (3 or more) contexts (or occasions, over time).

Assessment methods should reflect workplace demands, such as literacy, and the needs of particular groups, such as:

people with disabilities

people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

women

young people

older people

people in rural and remote locations.

Assessment methods suitable for valid and reliable assessment of this competency may include, but are not limited to, a combination of 2 or more of:

case studies

portfolios

projects

questioning

scenarios

authenticated evidence from the workplace and/or training courses

For consistency of assessment

Evidence must be gathered over time in a range of contexts to ensure the person can achieve the unit outcome and apply the competency in different situations or environments


Range Statement

The Range Statement provides information about the context in which the unit of competency is carried out. The variables cater for differences between States and Territories and the Commonwealth, and between organisations and workplaces. They allow for different work requirements, work practices and knowledge. The Range Statement also provides a focus for assessment. It relates to the unit as a whole. Text in bold italics in the Performance Criteria is explained here.

Benchmarking is:

an activity undertaken by an organisation to gauge its performance against a set of internal or industry-specific best practice standards

applied organisation-wide, to departments or business units or to areas such as finance, human resources, customer service/satisfaction, etc

Scope may include:

organisation-wide

functional area

business unit

skill area, such as management behaviours and practices

procedures, policies, guidelines, work instructions

resource deployment and usage

business practices

performance outcomes

organisational processes

Resources may include:

personnel

funding

downtime when benchmarking is underway

equipment and supplies

research materials

technology

Benchmarking approach may include:

a project team approach

comparison with similar organisation/function

visit to and critique of a similar organisation

collaboration in 'critical friends' program

comparison with pre-determined standard

identifying and setting targets for improved performance

change management

resourcing commensurate with the size and perceived importance of the exercise

training/education about benchmarking

benchmarking networks

Key result areas may include:

service delivery

finance

people management

client service

administration

safety

security

fraud control

process improvement, especially key business processes

Research may include:

key stakeholders

current literature

industry research

internal, local, national or international search for benchmarks

ensuring benchmarks are valid (comparing apples with apples) and reliable

identifying confounding variables

Benchmarks may include:

internal standards/performance indicators

historical data - past performance

external standards

industry standards

best/leading practice standards

national standards

international standards

Stakeholders may include:

all those individuals and groups both inside and outside the organisation that have some direct interest in the organisation's behaviour, actions, products and services, including:

boards of management

clients

community organisations

contractors

employees at all levels of the organisation

government

Ministers

other public sector organisations

service providers

suppliers

the public

union and association representatives

volunteers

Legislation, standards, policies and guidelines may include:

public sector management acts

financial management acts

audit acts

public sector standards

fraud control standards

government security standards

risk management guidelines

Australian standards, such as accounting standards, audit standards, risk management standards, knowledge management standards, quality standards

ethics and accountability standards

codes of conduct

confidentiality agreements

Staffing arrangements may be:

internal

external

contracted expertise

Tacit knowledge is:

knowledge that is not written down/recorded that resides in the mind and may include aspects of culture or 'ways of doing things'


Sectors

Not applicable.


Competency Field

Working in Government.


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

Not applicable.