Benchmarking & Comparative Approaches

Methodology

The identification and study of best performances of non-competitive organizations within the cultural heritage industry constitutes the basic preparatory stage in order to develop an enhanced, efficient and effective Strategic Plan. The criteria for their selection are based on their compatibility with the MaNet objectives. Consequently, external benchmarking was performed based on the one-to-one method as described by Tim Stapenhurst (2009:26-34,63-64). This method focuses on the identification, study and adaptation of the best performance among the existing best practices in short time as well as the dipolar relationship between the initiator and the benchmarking participant bares high learning potentiality. Subsequently, the one-to-one benchmarking method is enhanced by functional benchmarking, as their combination produces the highest value according to Bjorn Andersen & Per-Gaute Pettersen (1996:7). The functional benchmarking enables MaNet to benchmark prospective partners in the same industry that are easily accessible and share common or similar concerns. The above benchmarking tools were considered the most suitable drivers for the MaNet Strategic Plan as they enable to accomplish the benchmarking objectives presented in Table 7 (Stapenhurst 2009:5,18,26,80-81; Andersen & Pettershen 1996:6).