Showing papers in "Benchmarking: An International Journal in 2005"
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors provide an overview of the various issues related to environmental (green) supply chain management performance measurement, and identify a number of issues that need to still be addressed.
Abstract: Purpose – To introduce and provide an overview of the various issues related to environmental (green) supply chain management performance measurement.Design/methodology/approach – The work relies on experiences, case studies and other literature related to performance measurement in environmental supply chains. It seeks to integrate works in supply chain management, environmental management, and performance management into one framework. A systems framework forms the discussion outline with a focus on controls/pressures, inputs, tools, and outputs as major categories for evaluation and review.Findings – Provides an integrative framework for study, design and evaluation of green supply chain management performance tools. The findings also identify a number of issues that need to still be addressed.Research limitations/implications – We have only one design of the issues in which numerous categorizations could be provided. There is limited research in this area and new and current models/developments can pr...
1,304 citations
TL;DR: The paper finds that benchmarking techniques have become well established in recent years within the airport sector, however there is still some way to go in overcoming some of the problems that inhibit effective benchmarking on a truly international basis.
Abstract: Purpose – To provide an overview of the current attitudes and practical experience of airport benchmarkingDesign/methodology/approach – A range of benchmarking studies are critiqued The paper considers the partial performance measures which are used from an economic, operational and environmental perspective It also investigates more complex modelling approaches which have been undertaken to gain greater insight into an airport's overall performance In addition an assessment is made of the role of benchmarking in airport regulationFindings – The paper finds that benchmarking techniques have become well established in recent years within the airport sector However there is still some way to go in overcoming some of the problems that inhibit effective benchmarking on a truly international basisResearch limitations/implications – The paper focuses on methodological issues and does not discuss the findings of research in this areaPractical implications – A very useful source of information for all res
140 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors provide a framework of critical success factors for practioners and employers looking to develop new or enhance existing telecommuting programs, including support, communication, and trust.
Abstract: Purpose – To provide a framework of critical success factors for practioners and employers looking to develop new or enhance existing telework programs.Design/methodology/approach – This paper focuses on benchmarking the remote work arrangement of telecommuting. The issues of teleworking, including the benefits and challenges of such arrangements, are presented and reviewed. Based on a review of the teleworking literature, the authors have developed a framework that specifies the critical success factors that are instrumental in implementing or improving a teleworking program.Findings – The authors put forward a framework of the critical success factors including support, communication, and trust that are instrumental in developing telework programs. In order to address both macro and micro levels of analysis, the framework outlines critical success factors at the organizational, managerial, and employee level.Practical implications – In the information age, with rapid advances in technology and telecommu...
140 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors provide positive benchmarking examples of hospitality, tourism and leisure small management enterprises in the area of organizational culture, including supporting values such as building the future together, cooperative setting of missions and strategies, development of teamwork and organizational learning.
Abstract: Purpose – To provide positive benchmarking examples of hospitality, tourism and leisure small management enterprises in the area of organizational culture.Design/methodology/approach – Extreme case sampling was used; locating information‐rich key informants or critical cases. A total of 89 small businesses were researched including hotels (and guest houses), restaurants, pubs, visitor attractions and leisure opportunities.Findings – Semi‐structured interviews were analysed using an iterative approach based on the assumptions of Argumentation Theory. Results suggest that best‐performing small to medium‐sized (SME) operations in the hospitality, tourism and leisure industry share certain elements of culture including: supporting values such as building the future together, cooperative setting of missions and strategies, development of teamwork and organizational learning.Research limitations/implications – The research completed is illustrative of positive benchmarking elements of organizational culture. Fu...
102 citations
TL;DR: A typology of best practices is presented which can help a company to discern more effectively what could be relevant to exchange in benchmarking and the best practice specification (BPS) method is described, which helps aCompany to locate and specify its good practices likely to be transferred within the framework of benchmarking.
Abstract: Purpose – The paper aims to provide guidelines of companies in identifying their best practices with reference to a French example.Design/methodology/approach – The paper describes first the evolution of benchmarking, which nowadays is more and more based on the identification of good practices to acquire or transfer. Then we present a typology of best practices which can help a company to discern more effectively what could be relevant to exchange in benchmarking. Finally, we describe the best practice specification (BPS) method, which helps a company to locate and specify its good practices likely to be transferred within the framework of benchmarking.Findings – The paper underlines the difficulty of a company to clearly define what a “best practice” is and the lack of methods which could help it to identify its best practices.Research limitations/implications – Future research will be to develop a method of acquisition and representation of the best practices. In particular, it will be a question of st...
91 citations
TL;DR: benchmarking is one of the private sector‐grown “managerialist” tools whose application and significance is rapidly increasing in the UK public sector, and whether it is primarily a government tool to enforce static competitive performance standards is examined.
Abstract: Purpose – This paper aims to bring greater clarity to the debate on the merits (or demerits) of relative performance evaluation through a broad assessment of current UK National Health Service (NHS) benchmarking. It seeks to examine whether benchmarking is being used dynamically to disseminate best practice in healthcare, or whether it is primarily a government tool to enforce static competitive performance standards.Design/methodology/approach – Draws on recent literature and government pronouncements. It charts the development of the health care policy discourse that articulated a move from the internal market of the early 1990s to the metrics approach of New Labour.Findings – Benchmarking is one of the private sector‐grown “managerialist” tools whose application and significance is rapidly increasing in the UK public sector. Despite its prevalence, the nature (competitive or comparative), the process (based on indicators or ideas) and the outcomes (standards or “best practice”) of benchmarking in publi...
73 citations
70 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the role of benchmarking as a tool to help overcome some of the problems of performance assessment in the public sector is discussed, and the difficulties of establishing meaningful benchmarking exercises are discussed in relation to management accounting's approach to management control systems.
Abstract: Purpose – Public sector organisations have to respond to calls for accountability from both funders and recipients of the services, as well as report on operations within constrained financial resources. Given the absence of profit motives and the difficulties of performance assessment in public sector organisations, the purpose of this paper is to consider the role of benchmarking as a tool to help overcome some of the problems of performance assessment in the public sector.Design/methodology/approach – A review and discussion of current and recent trends and approaches in public sector benchmarking in New Zealand. The difficulties of establishing meaningful benchmarking exercises are discussed in relation to management accounting's approach to management control systems.Findings – In New Zealand, the pharmaceutical management agency (PHARMAC) is responsible for obtaining the best health outcomes that are reasonably achievable through the use of pharmaceuticals for eligible people, within the funding pro...
65 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors share the experience of a research program developing environmental benchmarking measures for the automobile industry and categorize these options into four general categories: regulatory, gross emissions, efficiency, and life cycle.
Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to better understand benefits and problems with different approaches to benchmarking environmental performance in manufacturing.Design/methodology/approach – This paper shares the experience of a research program developing environmental benchmarking measures for the automobile industry.Findings – In this paper, we categorize these options into four general categories: regulatory, gross emissions, efficiency, and life cycle. We found that firms emphasized different approaches to benchmarking depending upon regulatory context and company strategy. Product type, corporate and national culture, resource costs, stakeholder demands also all played a role in influencing their preferred benchmarking approach. Overall, the most robust environmental programs will incorporate elements of all four approaches.Research limitations/implications – The primary limitation of this study is that it draws its data from only one industry. Another limitation of this paper is that it is fo...
61 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a survey method was used to assess the management systems, leadership and styles within the cultural contexts of the three types of organizations using Hofstede's four cultural dimensions.
Abstract: Purpose – To show differences in organizational performance, management style and systems, resulting from cultural differences in three organizational types: foreign‐owned, joint ventures, and Chinese‐owned and operated.Design/methodology/approach – A survey method was used to assess the management systems, leadership and styles within the cultural contexts of the three types of organizations using Hofstede's four cultural dimensions. Organizational performance was measured using balanced scorecard method and factors suggested by other authors. Performance measures were compared across the three types of organizations.Findings – Foreign‐owned and operated companies performed significantly better than their joint venture (JV) and Chinese‐owned and operated organizations as measured by financial perspective, customer perspective, internal business perspective, innovation and learning perspective and technological assessment. There was clear evidence of benchmarking among Chinese‐owned and operated organizat...
57 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present an overview of the main conceptual and methodological issues that underlie our current understanding of benchmarking initiatives in the field of health, and discuss how health policy research and practice is evolving to address the challenges raised.
Abstract: Purpose – The pupose of this paper is to present an overview of the main conceptual and methodological issues that underlie our current understanding of benchmarking initiatives in the field of health.Design/methodology/approach – The paper is based on a pragmatic review of the literature and policy reports. It outlines some of the major conceptual problems associated with the use of benchmarking indicators and discusses how health policy research and practice is evolving to address the challenges raised, drawing examples from national and international benchmarking initiatives.Findings – Benchmarking has become an intrinsic part of most developed health care systems, yet the impact of benchmarking initiatives on improvements in system performance and their integration within existing policy processes still need to be elucidated. Several methodological challenges remain in the field of benchmarking, many of them related to the selection and quality of indicators used to make comparisons both within and be...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors propose and assess a core set of environmental and operational sustainability indicators for airport benchmarking, based on research conducted for a decision support tool designed to support airport environmental and operations sustainability.
Abstract: Purpose – This paper aims to propose and assess a core set of environmental and operational sustainability indicators for airport benchmarking, based on research conducted for a decision support tool designed to support airport environmental and operational sustainability. Seeks to make recommendations on the external use of sustainability indicators in stakeholder communication, based on a separate survey of the way in which UK airports use environmental and sustainability benchmarking reports.Design/methodology/approach – The indicators are designed to minimise additional data collection demands while reflecting sustainability theory to a practicable extent.Findings – Bringing core environmental and operational indicators together helps to make their inter‐relationship explicit. The indicators are a minimum set, and their limitations with respect to sustainability are made explicit.Originality/value – Reports on a survey of the current extent of, and approaches to, stakeholder communication undertaken b...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present the findings of an investigation into environmental reporting practice in the airline sector and highlight the limitations of inter airline comparisons regarding environmental data and confirm the need for environmental and social impacts to be reported in a more standardised manner in order to facilitate meaningful dialogue with stakeholders in communities adjacent to airports.
Abstract: – This paper aims to present the findings of an investigation into environmental reporting practice in the airline sector, – Evidence was gathered from an international survey of 272 IATA Airlines Responses accounted 65 per cent of the world's scheduled passenger traffic Reports were assessed against a framework developed by UK's Association of Chartered and Certified Accountants, – The paper demonstrates that, despite an increase in the availability of quantitative data and some consistency in the use of key performance indicators, comparing social and environmental performance across the airline sector is fraught with difficulties Variations in the exact definitions of the indicators used and the suite of functions embraced by the term “airline” are identified as fundamental obstacles to effective sector benchmarking, – Insight into an understanding of some of the pros and cons of comparisons between airline environmental performance data, – The research highlights the limitations of inter airline comparisons regarding environmental data and confirms the need for environmental and social impacts to be reported in a more standardised manner in order to facilitate meaningful dialogue with stakeholders in communities adjacent to airports
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used quality function deployment (QFD)/benchmarking for building an optimal activity-based costing (ABC) model using baseline information from five different Spanish hospitals.
Abstract: Purpose – To use quality function deployment (QFD)/benchmarking for building an optimal activity‐based costing (ABC) model using baseline information from five different Spanish hospitals.Design/methodology/approach – The customer satisfaction benchmarking process in QFD is discussed along with the benefits of hierarchical benchmarks in specifying areas of strategic competition and the logically ensuing product/service strategic decision‐making requirements. A case study is presented to illustrate the use of two methodological approaches: benchmarking and QFD to obtain the final product of the paper: an optimal ABC.Findings – The resulting outcome from the QFD/benchmarking analysis is an ABC model, which has the customer expectations and the requirements that hospitals are looking for.Research limitations/implications – Future research can benefit from this research by expanding the scope from hospitals to other types of industries in order to comparatively analyze the applicability of the proposed tools,...
TL;DR: Resea et al. as discussed by the authors examined the use of benchmarking as a management technique in the Australian non-profit sector and found that benchmarking has been little used by non-profits in Australia to date.
Abstract: Purpose – This paper aims to examine the use of benchmarking as a management technique in the Australian non‐profit sector. Benchmarking has great potential benefit for the non‐profit sector, particularly given the reliance of non‐profit enterprises on effectively utilizing human capital; thus it might be expected that they would be enthusiastic about techniques such as benchmarking that can assist them in improving their performance. The non‐profit sector is a large and important part of the economy in the developed world.Design/methodology/approach – To determine the use of benchmarking in the Australian non‐profit sector, the following methods were used: a review of published industry surveys and case studies; interviews with 15 non‐profit sector experts; and a review of more than 50 works on non‐profit management.Findings – Research showed that benchmarking has been little used by non‐profit organizations in Australia to date. This seems to mirror the experience of non‐profits in other countries.Resea...
TL;DR: In this paper, a questionnaire survey is carried out to UK manufacturing enterprises to collect relevant data, and analysis of variance (ANOVA), correlation analysis and cluster analysis are performed to infer the results.
Abstract: Purpose – To present the application of a business model for holistic uncertainty management for twenty‐first century manufacturing enterprises.Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire survey is carried out to UK manufacturing enterprises to collect relevant data, and analysis of variance (ANOVA), correlation analysis and cluster analysis are performed to infer the results.Findings – It can be concluded that different manufacturing environments suffer different effects of underlying causes of uncertainty on product tardy delivery. The product tardy delivery performance in make‐to‐order (MTO) manufacturing environment is found significantly affected by a wide range of underlying causes of uncertainty. It is interesting to find that mixed‐mode (MM) manufacturing environment has an opposite outcome. Correlation results provide significant evidence that underlying causes of uncertainty do not have linear association with product tardy delivery. This finding reinforces the proposition that the effects of ...
TL;DR: In this paper, a comprehensive model of strategic management emphasized on the interactions of the organization with its external and internal environments and also to further develop a strategy based on competitive advantage was established.
Abstract: Purpose – To establish a comprehensive model of strategic management emphasized on the interactions of the organization with its external and internal environments and also to further develop a strategy based on competitive advantage.Design/methodology/approach – By using key success factor and benchmarking methodologies as well as Multi‐Dimensional Space technique, the operational customer's needs fall into four strategic cells: “anchoring”, “narrowing”, “following‐up”, and “catching‐up”, which can be improved in accordance with strategic moves.Findings – The empirical study examines Taipei International Airport (TPE) and undertakes a comparison with its six major competitors in Asia. It has been found that Singapore as well as Hong Kong international airports prevailed over other competitors in the overall performance and thus were selected as the benchmarking airports. While the TPE outperforms the benchmarking airports in the Core Functional Area, it lags well behind in the Support Area. It is therefo...
TL;DR: In this paper, a general model of factors that determine whether a particular gainsharing effort will increase organizational effectiveness is presented, and a review of the empirical literature provides support for the model presented.
Abstract: Purpose – To introduce a conceptual model for increasing the likelihood that gainsharing plans will be successfully implemented.Design/methodology/approach – The literature on gainsharing plans is rich in descriptions of how individual cases were successful or unsuccessful owing to various situational variables. Research on the effects gainsharing plans have on organizational effectiveness is much needed. The present paper builds on current research by providing a general model of factors that determine whether a particular gainsharing effort will increase organizational effectiveness. A review of the empirical literature provides support for the model presented.Findings – Gainsharing can be an important and successful intervention for many organizations. The keys to success are involving all stakeholders in the development of the plan, developing an easy to understand formula for sharing gains, maintaining transparency, and ensuring that the plan's goals are in line with the organization's goals.Original...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors explored the use of best practice benchmarking in civil aviation and found that large airlines were more likely to engage in benchmarking and that ease of usage and the cost relative to other performance improvement techniques were important factors in determining benchmarking uptake.
Abstract: Purpose – This paper aims to explore the use of best practice benchmarking in civil aviation.Design/methodology/approach – Evidence was gathered from two international questionnaire surveys of the top 200 airlines and the top 200 airports. Supplementary evidence included interviews with airline and airport managers.Findings – The profile of responses was a good match to the samples. Benchmarking was identified as the most used performance improvement technique for both airlines and airports. Larger airlines were more likely to engage in benchmarking. Ease of usage and the cost relative to other performance improvement techniques were important factors in determining benchmarking uptake. Problems of data comparability and competitive sensitivity were raised. Airports had a greater tendency to concentrate on benchmarking with similar organisations and placed a relatively greater emphasis on its use for performance measurement over process improvement.Research limitations/implications – Further research shou...
TL;DR: It is concluded that there are limits to the rapid or broad implementation of BM principles in health services and it is argued that the patients and their expectations are not referred in BM.
Abstract: Purpose – To investigate implementation of benchmarking (BM) in three hospital trusts by adapting receptive context of change model according to BM principles of EFQM business model.Design/methodology/approach – Perceptions of managers, clinicians and finance personnel towards implementation of BM are compared. Both qualitative and quantitative data are collected in three hospitals and results are cross compared to analyse both organisational and professional perceptions.Findings – The paper concludes that there are limits to the rapid or broad implementation of BM principles in health services. It argues that the patients and their expectations are not referred in BM. It also suggests that local implementation programmes should be used for BM health services.Research limitations/implications – Future research could use data from other hospitals and apply same/similar framework in order to create knowledge representing the general attitude in hospitals and between professionals towards BM in health servic...
TL;DR: A virtual case‐based benchmarking system (VCBS) which incorporates computational intelligence technologies into partners' benchmarking process to support decision‐making is proposed.
Abstract: Purpose – This paper attempts to propose a virtual case‐based benchmarking system (VCBS) which incorporates computational intelligence technologies into partners' benchmarking process to support decision‐makingDesign/methodology/approach – The proposed system consists of three main modules: data repository module, OLAP module and case‐based reasoning (CBR) module The VCBS is a web‐based application that enables users to access the system and submit information to the system in anywhere at anytime The database repository, on the other hand, maintains and acquires the data that are generated in the transactions processes and other workflow processes It also ensures the entire valuable data which are accessible for the management to make decisions The OLAP and the CBR modules are considered as the brain of the VCBS The CBR module is aimed for short‐listing candidate, while the OLAP module is utilized for benchmarking the short‐listed candidateFindings – The VCBS is particularly useful in situations wh
TL;DR: In this paper, the adoption of economic value added (EVA) income as a benchmark for setting pricing and other policies of a monopolistic state-owned enterprise in the absence of normal benchmarking mechanisms is described and analyzed.
Abstract: Purpose – To describe and analyse the adoption of economic value added (EVA) income as a benchmark for setting pricing and other policies of a monopolistic state‐owned enterprise in the absence of normal benchmarking mechanisms.Design/methodology/approach – By earning zero economic value added profits the enterprise earns its cost of capital and escapes claims of monopolistic pricing and possible regulation. To test the success of this policy the financial series of the enterprise are developed from the date of incorporation in 1989 along with the economic value added series. The normal accounting profits are compared with the value added results. The value added results are used as a proxy for the pricing and other operational decisions of the firm that are not directly observable. The validity of the economic value added approach to provide a suitable benchmark is examined.Findings – Provides evidence that the enterprise was successful in avoiding charges of monopolistic pricing and subsequent regulatio...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors propose a conceptual framework that facilitates the benchmarking of strategic processes necessary for entrepreneurial survival and success, and identify four key processes that contribute to entrepreneurial viability: cooperation, sharing founder's vision, time management, and developing organizational competencies.
Abstract: Purpose – To propose a conceptual framework that facilitates the benchmarking of strategic processes necessary for entrepreneurial survival and success.Design/methodology/approach – Drawing on extant literature on entrepreneurial survival, this paper considers the chaotic and emergent nature of the entrepreneurial organization and how benchmarking can contribute to a newly established firm's chances for survival and prosperity. The paper incorporates the concept of a sustainable competitive advantage in the discussion, and offers organizational culture as being the imperfectly imitable element which will contribute to the entrepreneurial firm's success.Findings – Four key processes are identified that contribute to entrepreneurial viability – cooperation, sharing founder's vision, time management, and developing organizational competencies – and suggestions are offered for developing appropriate benchmarks for these processes. The paper also highlights two instruments that may be useful in this endeavor.R...
TL;DR: The processes used to ensure that the comparisons made between airport and airline performance are as meaningful as possible are described, and a number of issues need to be considered when making performance comparisons in aviation are highlighted.
Abstract: Purpose
– This paper aims to describe the processes used to ensure that the comparisons made between airport and airline performance are as meaningful as possible, and to highlight a number of issues which need to be considered when making performance comparisons in aviation.
Design/methodology/approach
– Evidence was gathered from an international data sample of airports and airlines. Operational and financial data was derived from published reports.
Findings
– The research illustrates the scale of differences in airport performance levels, and it also highlights the considerable difference in performance levels between airports and airlines. It is clear that many factors can impact on an airport's ability to optimise its performance, and on its relative level of performance when compared to its peers.
Practical implications
– The research highlights and demonstrates the need for a degree of understanding of contextual factors when comparing airport performance measures with each other and when comparing airline performance.
Originality/value
– Insight into the process by which airport and airline performance measurements can be compared with each other.
TL;DR: The review highlights the fact that benchmarking in laboratory medicine is undertaken largely in isolation from the clinical setting in which it is applied, and the benchmarking activities are concerned with the process (dealing predominantly with efficiency and productivity) of produc...
Abstract: Purpose – To review the application of the principles of benchmarking to the field of laboratory medicine.Design/methodology/approach – Review of the literature on performance management techniques employed in healthcare provision, and specifically in laboratory medicine, including benchmarking.Findings – The review identifies the main performance indicators employed in quality assurance and benchmarking programmes that have been developed in laboratory medicine. Some of these have a clear benefit in improving laboratory performance, whilst others are used for more general management purposes. The emphasis of these programmes is on improving analytical performance, together with pre‐ and post‐analytical performance. The review highlights the fact that benchmarking in laboratory medicine is undertaken largely in isolation from the clinical setting in which it is applied. The benchmarking activities are, therefore, concerned with the process (dealing predominantly with efficiency and productivity) of produc...
TL;DR: Evaluating the potential of financial performance benchmarking as an expenditure control tool for a national pathology service comprising both public and private service providers finds some significant negative implications for health service quality and suggested related compromises.
Abstract: Purpose – This paper sets out to evaluate the potential of financial performance benchmarking as an expenditure control tool for a national pathology service comprising both public and private service providers.Design/methodology/approach – Primary data were provided by direct consultation with a wide range of stakeholders, whose experience and perspectives were sought primarily through informal face‐to‐face interviews. The authors analyse these informant contributions alongside official reports and the published literature on dual public‐private health service provision.Findings – Informants identified potential advantages and pitfalls in comparative pathology benchmarking for expenditure control. They also identified some significant negative implications for health service quality and suggested related compromises. Often misunderstood cost benchmarking issues are clarified in the paper.Research limitations/implications – Several areas of importance for further investigation are suggested.Practical impl...
TL;DR: Benchmarking and performance monitoring practice developed by the New Zealand Health Information Service at a diagnosis‐related group (DRG) level is outlined, providing an indication of which DRGs and outcome variables may be worth looking at in more detail.
Abstract: Purpose – The paper aims to outline benchmarking and performance monitoring practice developed by the New Zealand Health Information Service at a diagnosis‐related group (DRG) level.Design/methodology/approach – The indicators are calculated from the routine hospital discharge data in the National Minimum Dataset. The benchmarks are set at either the 20th or 80th centile as a cut‐point that can alert to possible issues or a target for which to aim. Benchmarks can be used to highlight variations by making comparisons with other health‐care providers or the same provider over time.Findings – This approach provides an indication of which DRGs and outcome variables may be worth looking at in more detail. Using comparative measures across providers allows the identification of areas of health care with the most potential for gain.Practical implications – There is strong evidence of changed clinical practice and improved health outcomes following systematic evaluation of some patient management practices.Origin...
TL;DR: This field study considered only the opinions of the highest ranked executives of the IS functions within their organizations to determine underlying IS management factors and benchmark the position of Kuwait's results on dimensionality and determinants of IS management issues with that of other previous studies.
Abstract: Purpose – Aims to demonstrate the importance of reporting IS management constructs rather than reporting and ranking the individual management issues; determine whether the ratings of IS management factors differ across organizational and personal variables; and benchmark the position of Kuwait's results on dimensionality and determinants of IS management issues with that of other previous studies.Design/methodology/approach – This field study considered only the opinions of the highest ranked executives of the IS functions within their organizations. A seven‐page structured interview guide was used for data collection. Principal component factor analysis was performed on the issue ratings in order to determine underlying IS management factors. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed to further assess how well the factors fit the issue data and to test the fit of the resulting factor model. Finally, t‐tests were performed to test whether the differences between factors were significant in order to demo...
TL;DR: In this article, a survey of a large number of multi-owner accounting firms (CPA firms) was analyzed to examine professional employee benefits and to look at the relationship between firm size and benefits offered.
Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this research paper is to provide practitioners and researchers with guidance and ideas for benchmarking employee benefits in companies providing professional services. The research addressed employee benefits in multi‐owner accounting firms.Design/methodology/approach – Data from a survey of a large number of multi‐owner accounting firms (CPA firms) were analyzed to examine professional employee benefits and to look at the relationship between firm size and benefits offered.Findings – An analysis of survey results suggested that larger firms offer better benefits than smaller firms. Larger firms tend also to be more profitable. Various employee benefit metrics were examined.Research limitations/implications – The survey was limited to accounting firms in the United States, so the findings may have limited value for researchers and practitioners in other countries.Practical implications – The better benefits offered by larger accounting firms may allow them to attract better perso...