Adventures in Benchmarking

1. Adventures in Benchmarking Lee Cheatham Business & Operations Advisory Committee May 11-12, 2016

2. Disclaimer These comments, conclusions are mine alone They do not reflect Arizona State University leadership, either then or now

3. Benchmarking Biodesign • The Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University • A new laboratory research facility • 2006 Laboratory Building of the Year • Focus: Facilities Management • Maintenance – building and relationship to University services • Utility costs, environmental footprint • Research productivity related to space • Exiting the “start-up” phase • Costs, long-term considerations becoming important • Invited 4-5 like organizations to visit • Held onsite discussions

4. Conclusions • Benchmarking: when you know you’re “pretty good” • Consulting – when in trouble • Review panel – when justification is required • Value is both expected and unexpected • Learn better practices, new ideas • Enhanced reputation • Sample size is (necessarily small) • Outliers are probably the most valuable; looking for a direction • What is a good result? • Honestly accomplished and helpful • It is still tough to remove entrenched beliefs

5. Tips • Recruit someone already invested to help identify participants • Present results with credible metrics that stakeholders relate to • Linear-foot-of-bench • Have leader of affected organization be the champion • Otherwise it isn’t benchmarking • Her/his full participation is required • Keep it focused AND be prepared for the unexpected

6. Biodesign Result • Confidence reformulate maintenance agreement with University • Changed the discussion on research productivity (by space) • Confirmation that the space-faculty interface as a dangerous place • Expanding network among similar institutions • Reputation of Biodesign and Facilities Manager improved • Externally within research facilities community • With Biodesign faculty

7. Thank you. Comments?