POTENTIALS AND RISKS OF BENCHMARKING

Hans de Bruijn (), Ruben van Wendel de Joode () and Haiko van der Voort ()
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Hans de Bruijn: Department of Organization & Management, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
Ruben van Wendel de Joode: Department of Organization & Management, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
Haiko van der Voort: Department of Organization & Management, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands

Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management (JEAPM), 2004, vol. 06, issue 03, 289-309

Abstract: This article aims to explore some potentials and risks of benchmarking in environmental assessment. The dominant image derived from theory and empirical data is that benchmark tests tend to be based on quantitative measures, which, under certain conditions, produces perverse effects and bureaucracy.The answer to the central question — Can benchmarks be useful in environmental assessment? — is affirmative. The problem, however, is that due to an inherent characteristic of environmental issues, using quantitative measures will create perverse effects and bureaucracy thus reducing their effectiveness. This article proposes the formulation of rules of the game to increase the effectiveness of benchmarking. These rules are mutual agreements that regulate for instance who are allowed to use and interpret the figures.

Keywords: Benchmarking; public sector; law of diminishing effectiveness; environmental assessment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2004
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DOI: 10.1142/S1464333204001778

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