Performance measurement and management systems: state of the art, guidelines for design and challenges

Recently, performance measurement and management (PMM) has received increasing attention from both the academic and industrial environments. Companies that try to use PMM systems report experiencing implementation problems including goal incongruence. Based on a discussion of the state of the art of PMM, this paper aims to provide research guidelines for building a PMM system through a reference framework, and to identify major design challenges.

At a macro level, the evolution of research is analyzed using citation and co‐citation analysis techniques. Further, the evolution of PMM systems in the last 20 years is traced. The feasibility and applicability of these frameworks/models are analyzed by considering five milestones that a performance measurement system should have. Based on this, an integrated framework is proposed as a basis for designing a cohesive PMM system.

The research on the subject is quite diverse. In fact, the research appears to be quite mature in terms of publications and citations, while PMM systems developed do not meet the PMM challenge faced in the current environment. The framework proposed for PMM system design integrates five systems: a performance system, a cost system, a capability evaluation system, a benchmarking system and a planning system. Integration among the five systems is to be viewed as the driver to address the PMM challenge.

The proposed framework is a starting point for PMM system design and it provides important guidelines for successful implementations of PMM initiatives for various types of companies in the current global business environment. However, further empirical studies are needed before the concepts described here can be assessed to ascertain its applicability.

The paper provides a literature review of PMM research, discusses the mutual consistency of models and frameworks therein, and explores how the framework proposed might be implemented and improved, as well as the major challenges facing researchers. Practical implication and benefits of the proposed framework adoption are highlighted through an example.

Research in PMM has become increasingly important given the significant impact it can have on competitive strategy and operations of firms in the present global business environment. This paper demonstrates the need of an holistic approach to PMM, which requires an intensive and deep comprehension of the key activities in the company and their related drivers.