A theoretical model, which describes continuous improvement and benchmarking processes, was developed. The model was based on the concepts that improvements in management inputs should produce organizational benefits and that management inputs are limited by budget constraints. The model was...

Presents the results of a study undertaken to investigate the status of benchmarking within the UK. Results from primary research show that some very successful projects have been undertaken, and that levels of interest among practitioners is high. Presents evidence of the impact of benchmarking...

Traditionally businesses have measured their performance solely in financial terms. This limited approach has been challenged, with the introduction of the concept of key performance indicators (KPIs) for non‐financial results. In response to the Latham and Egan Reports, the UK construction...

Purpose – Recently, benchmarking has become a common approach to optimize production processes by comparing certain aspects of a company with its competitors. However, one of the biggest challenges is not only to define suitable benchmarking topics and partners, to gather and statistically...

Purpose – The aim of this study is to demonstrate suitability of the continuous improvement framework and use of benchmarking method in the context of sports. Design/methodology/approach – This study uses non‐financial performance measures that are indicative of performance and are closely...

Purpose – This paper aims to explore the best strategy for Turkish SMEs to obtain world class manufacturing status. Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire was used as a reaserch tool. From the results of a questionnaire, a factor analysis is used to reduce 42 quality management...

Purpose – A critical step in all benchmarking methodologies is “to determine what to benchmark.” Although benchmarking methodologies have been noted in the literature, the need has arisen for the development of structured approaches to determine priority improvement needs. The purpose of...

Purpose – Short product life cycle and/or mass customization necessitate reconfiguration of operational enablers of supply chain (SC) from time to time in order to harness high levels of performance. The purpose of this paper is to identify the key operational enablers under stochastic...

Purpose Website benchmarking theory and the website analysis method (WAM) are benchmark tested across non-commercial tropical tourism websites. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach The abridged WAM benchmarks 280 tropical tourism websites from four continental areas...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the history and existing research on continuous improvement (CI). Design/methodology/approach – Extensive review of the literature. Findings – This paper provides an overview of CI, its inception, how it evolved into...