What is benchmarking?

Gift and Mosel¹ define benchmarking as "the continual and collaborative discipline of measuring and comparing the results of key work processes with those of the best performers." The ultimate objective of benchmarking is to identify "best practices" associated with high levels of performance and to see those practices find expression in organizational re-design and enhancement. H. James Harrington², who introduced benchmarking as a management tool in the late 1960's explained its rationale thusly: "We are all in an automobile race of sorts, but most organizational drivers don't know, and many don't care about, where they are positioned in the track. They look around and see a competitor in the race car behind them and take comfort in believing they are in the lead, not realizing the competitor is about to lap them." (p. 1). Benchmarking, therefore, is a process of systematically comparing an organization's performance with that of others in order to learn more about its relative strengths and opportunities for improvement.

¹Gift, R. and Mosel, D. (1994). Benchmarking in Health Care, American Hospital Association.
²Harrington, H.J. and Harrington, J. (1996). High Performance Benchmarking, McGraw-Hill.

Why consider benchmarking?

Consider this. A thermometer would have little value as a measure of your health, if you didn’t know that 98.6° were normal. Similarly, measures of organizational performance are simply “numbers” in the absence of a context. Benchmarking transforms data into actionable information. Research has clearly demonstrated that providing a comparative context for performance measures leads to significant improvements.

Is benchmarking expensive?

Until now, it has been. BPS has changed all of that. Historically, benchmarking was a customized and very expensive proposition, generally costing tens of thousands of dollars. BPS makes comprehensive benchmarking data affordable for even the most modest of behavioral health/human services agencies. Key benchmarking data can be acquired for $40 per benchmark. Bundled packages and formalized benchmarking initiatives offer even greater value.

Is the benchmarking process complicated?

Submitting your data to BPS is a simple process, similar to ordering a book on-line. If your organization already maintains the types of data that BPS benchmarks, and your definitions parallel ours, then it should be a snap! Each of our measures is accompanied by an operational definition, which should help. However, if you get stuck, feel free to contact us for assistance (help@bpsys.org or call toll free 877-330-9870). The effort involved in gathering necessary data for benchmarking varies greatly with the various indices. In some instances, our benchmark definitions include instructions as to how to conduct a time-limited study.

How will I receive my reports?

For credit card purchases, your PDF report will be displayed on your screen as soon as the transaction is completed! Your report will also be e-mailed to you. For payment by check, your report will be e-mailed to you when your check clears. All reports are in PDF format. If you do not have Adobe Reader, you may use the link below.

Will the information I provide be secure and confidential?

BPS understands that your organization's data is highly sensitive and proprietary. We take every measure available to ensure that your data is secure, confidential, and maintained in complete privacy. BPS will never make your data available to third parties.

Where do the BPS benchmarking norms come from?

BPS data and operational definitions come from a variety of sources. Some benchmarks are brought to you through collaborative arrangements with national associations and other groups that have conducted their own surveys. For example, MHCA (Mental Health Corporations of America) conducts respected national benchmarking surveys that have been incorporated as a key component of the BPS database. In other instances, the database is populated by information provided exclusively by BPS clients in numerous regional and national benchmarking initiatives.