Abstract

The subject of this book is benchmarking in the public sector and part of the interest is to analyze the importance that benchmarking has acquired in this sector - as a tool for improving and innovating public administration - when states strive for quality, efficiency and effectiveness of the services offered. The study is exploratory and descriptive and uses a qualitative methodology that combines a bibliographic analysis to develop the theoretical framework and the definition of the types and dimensions of benchmarking with the identification and description of the experiences from the empirical data studied. A special chapter discusses the importance, scope and dimensions of product design benchmarking (comparative assessment of product design or industrial design) for government assessment of design and development of new products for micro, small and medium-sized manufacturers. Our approach covers the various policies and measures to support Micro, Small and Medium Industries (MiPyMIs) implemented by sub-national states.