A present state analysis method for performance measurement systems
Licentiate thesis, 2018

Most companies use a performance measurement (PM) system to support strategic management and operations management processes. This is especially important in today’s dynamic environment, which leads to changes in company strategy and PM systems. To achieve an efficient PM system, it is important to measure the things that matter to the organization but at the same time measure as little as possible. A life cycle approach to the PM system is useful in handling these changes, since it helps companies regularly review and design their performance indicators and keep them relevant. Several framework and methods exist for reviewing PM systems, and their main focus is on how well the performance indicators align with the company strategy. However, a research gap has been identified in how performance indicators are designed and used in the lower levels of an organization. Therefore, the purpose of this thesis is to identify areas of improvement and to develop a method to help companies review and design an efficient PM system.

The present state analysis method (PSAM) developed in the thesis focuses on reviewing operational performance indicators, using the strategic goals of the studied organization as input. The data is collected both from interviews with top management and from a mapping of the performance indicators used in the organization. This gives a view both of the top management’s perspective as well as of the operational use of the PM system. The strategic alignment of the mapped performance indicators are analyzed by visualizing the connection between the strategic goals and the performance indicators at each organizational level in a tree diagram. In addition, the standardization and rationalization potentials of the existing PM system are analyzed through a set of matrices that determine whether any performance indicators measure the same thing or have the same purpose.

The PSAM was tested at 7 manufacturing sites in Sweden to investigate the present state of their PM systems and to identify areas of improvement. The findings show similar structure of PM systems within the companies, where the performance indicators were divided into categorie that were derived from the strategy. More than half of the manufacturing sites had processes for all four stages in the KPI-life cycle; however, processes for reviewing the PM systems must be improved. The results also show that the companies used a large number of performance indicators that were well-aligned to the strategy. The studied companies were asked to identify common pitfalls related to their PM system, and eight groups of pitfalls were identified. One of the most important procedures to avoid these pitfalls is to make sure that the organization has defined processes for all stages in the KPI life cycle. This thesis contributes to the theoretical field of performance measurement systems with an empirical verification of the use of existing theories and frameworks, as well as a standardized and systematic method to review the operational performance measurement system within a single manufacturing site.

Present state analysis method

Performance indicators

Performance measurement systems

2456 Korsvägen, Vera Sandbergs allé 8
Opponent: Jannis Angelis, Department of Industrial economics and Management, Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden

Author

Anna Landström

Chalmers, Technology Management and Economics, Supply and Operations Management

A life cycle approach to business performance measurement systems

Procedia Manufacturing,; Vol. 25(2018)p. 126-133

Paper in proceeding

Review of a performance measurement system at shop-floor level

Proceedings of 24th EurOMA conference, July 1-5, Edinburgh, Scotland,; (2017)

Paper in proceeding

Performance indicators at different organisational levels in manufacturing companies

Swedish Production Symposium, 25-27/10 2016, Lund,; (2016)

Paper in proceeding

Present state analysis of BPMS in large manufacturing companies

Proceedings from PMA 2016, 10th conference of the Performance Measurement Association 26-29 June 2016 Edinburgh, Scotland,; (2016)

Paper in proceeding

Sustainable Resource Efficient Business Performance Measurement Systems (SuRE BPMS)

VINNOVA (2015-01371), 2015-08-01 -- 2017-07-31.

Subject Categories

Production Engineering, Human Work Science and Ergonomics

Licentiate thesis, report - Department of Technology of Management and Economics, Chalmers University of Technology: L2018:105

Publisher

Chalmers

2456 Korsvägen, Vera Sandbergs allé 8

Opponent: Jannis Angelis, Department of Industrial economics and Management, Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden

More information

Latest update

10/30/2018