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The emergence and evolution of benchmarking: a management fashion perspective

Dag Øivind Madsen (University College of Southeast Norway, Hønefoss, Norway)
Kåre Slåtten (University College of Southeast Norway, Hønefoss, Norway)
Daniel Johanson (Department of Accounting, Auditing and Law, Norwegian School of Economics, Bergen, Norway)

Benchmarking: An International Journal

ISSN: 1463-5771

Article publication date: 3 April 2017

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to make a contribution to the benchmarking literature by examining the historical emergence and evolution of benchmarking using the management fashion perspective as a theoretical lens.

Design/methodology/approach

The research approach followed in this paper can be characterized as explorative and theoretical. Insights from different data sources have been combined to provide a rich description of the emergence and evolution of benchmarking.

Findings

This analysis casts new light on several aspects of benchmarking’s emergence and evolution pattern. The characteristics of the benchmarking idea give it potential as a fashionable management tool. The widespread popularity and longevity of benchmarking can to a large extent be explained by the efforts of various actors to turn benchmarking into an institution.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is explorative and is limited by a reliance on secondary sources.

Originality/value

Although some researchers have noted that benchmarking could be viewed as a management fashion, management fashion theory has, only to a very limited extent, been used as a theoretical lens in the context of benchmarking. This research paper demonstrates that management fashion theory can provide valuable insights for research on benchmarking.

Keywords

Citation

Madsen, D.Ø., Slåtten, K. and Johanson, D. (2017), "The emergence and evolution of benchmarking: a management fashion perspective", Benchmarking: An International Journal, Vol. 24 No. 3, pp. 775-805. https://doi.org/10.1108/BIJ-05-2016-0077

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited

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