Purpose – The paper suggests an application of the benchmarking technique on the content evaluation of the Health District Activity Plans (HADPs). Design/methodology/approach – A literature review on benchmarking leads to the definition of a benchmarking process, which is utilized to evaluate and compare the contents of the Health District Activity Plans. These documents link the planning activity of the Health Districts of a Region to the objectives comprehensively established at higher levels. Consequently, to define a common level of comparison of the HADPs, the contents of the texts are evaluated through an in-depth study of the specific law prescriptions and the adoption of an hermeneutic point of view. The HADPs collected among the Health Districts of a single Italian Region represent the empirical data set and their specific benchmarking involves the definition of benchmark scales and placement of “best practices”. Findings – Benchmarking can improve planning capabilities of the Health Districts pointing out their most positive differences. Its specific application on the HDAPs highlights its flexibility and usefulness; whilst at the same time it opens new insights on the recent evolution of the health care systems towards accountability, cost consciousness and efficiency. Practical implications – The results of the benchmarking comparison will lead to the design of an empirical blueprint for framing Health District planning data and improve the understanding of the Region. Originality/value – The paper highlights the role of benchmarking both in providing a comprehensive lecture key of the reality of District planning and suggesting cues from the best practices observed. Keywords – Health District Activity Plans, strategic planning, benchmarking, hermeneutic analysis Paper type – public sector benchmarking
"Public Sector Benchmarking: an application on Italian Health District Activity Plans"
VAGNONI, Emidia;MARAN, Laura
2008
Abstract
Purpose – The paper suggests an application of the benchmarking technique on the content evaluation of the Health District Activity Plans (HADPs). Design/methodology/approach – A literature review on benchmarking leads to the definition of a benchmarking process, which is utilized to evaluate and compare the contents of the Health District Activity Plans. These documents link the planning activity of the Health Districts of a Region to the objectives comprehensively established at higher levels. Consequently, to define a common level of comparison of the HADPs, the contents of the texts are evaluated through an in-depth study of the specific law prescriptions and the adoption of an hermeneutic point of view. The HADPs collected among the Health Districts of a single Italian Region represent the empirical data set and their specific benchmarking involves the definition of benchmark scales and placement of “best practices”. Findings – Benchmarking can improve planning capabilities of the Health Districts pointing out their most positive differences. Its specific application on the HDAPs highlights its flexibility and usefulness; whilst at the same time it opens new insights on the recent evolution of the health care systems towards accountability, cost consciousness and efficiency. Practical implications – The results of the benchmarking comparison will lead to the design of an empirical blueprint for framing Health District planning data and improve the understanding of the Region. Originality/value – The paper highlights the role of benchmarking both in providing a comprehensive lecture key of the reality of District planning and suggesting cues from the best practices observed. Keywords – Health District Activity Plans, strategic planning, benchmarking, hermeneutic analysis Paper type – public sector benchmarkingI documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
