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 benchmarking
2008
Vagnoni, Emidia; Maran, Laura
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11392/521519
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