Performance measurement systems - Models, characteristics and measures

The subject of performance measurement is encountering increasing interest in both the academic and managerial ambits. This, for the most part, is due to the broadening spectrum of performances required by the present-day competitive environment and the new production paradigm known as lean production or world class manufacturing (Dixon et al., 1990; Hall et al., 1991). In addition there is the need to support and verify the performance improvement programmes such as just-in-time, total quality management, concurrent engineering, etc. (Ghalayini and Noble, 1996).

These programmes are characterised by their ability to pursue several performances at the same time: for example...