Title: Benchmarking partner selection: introducing the AHP method in the benchmarking process to define best practice partners

Authors: J. Razmi, S.F. Ghaderi, P.K. Ahmed

Addresses: Faculty of Engineering, Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 11365/4563, Tehran, Iran. ' Faculty of Engineering, Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 11365/4563, Tehran, Iran. ' Wolverhampton Business School, University of Wolverhampton, Telford Campus, Shifnal Road, Priorslee, Telford Shropshire TF2 9NT, UK

Abstract: This paper illustrates the challenges and problems facing organisations in identifying a partner company to benchmark against. The paper highlights the benchmarking process and the critical role of selecting an appropriate partner(s) for benchmarking, and then proceeds to illuminate a number of conventional techniques that can be used in this process by highlighting their advantages and disadvantages. The paper then elaborates the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) as a highly versatile yet simple to use method in benchmarking partner selection. The paper concludes by illustrating the use of AHP as a case example.

Keywords: benchmarking; multiattribute decision making; AHP method; evaluation; electric power companies; analytic hierarchy process; benchmarking partners.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMP.2005.008038

International Journal of Management Practice, 2005 Vol.1 No.3, pp.263 - 278

Published online: 10 Nov 2005 *

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