The Act Phase
Step 9: Develop an action plan, implement procedures, and
monitor progress.
"Developing
the action plan is the culmination of the benchmarking team's work. At this
stage, the team must identify the ways in which the knowledge gained during the
benchmarking process can be applied to improve the organization." (Dutile,
1993)
Input to Step 9: The input
to Step 9 is the output from Step 8.
- Functional goals
necessary and sufficient to incorporate benchmarking findings and
recommendations into the organization.
- Performance standards
that reflect functional goals.
- Budget allocations that
reflect functional goals.
A.
Develop the .how to..
In
developing an action plan to implement procedures and monitor the progress of
the benchmarking initiative, the BMK Team looks at how to:
- z achieve desired
results.
- z measure the results.
- z monitor feedback on
the process changes.
- z identify the
differences in tasks necessary to implement the process changes.
- z identify necessary
training.
The
QMB determines how to:
- achieve and measure the
results.
- obtain and monitor the
feedback.
- allocate resources necessary to
support the effort (money, people, equipment, materials, training, etc.).
- propose the action plan to the
ESC.
A
draft action plan is then presented to the ESC.
B. Get
top-level approval of the action plan.
Once
the actions have been evaluated and the plan to implement the changes designed,
the ESC must sanction a formal, standardized, sequenced process for the
implementation of the best practices. The action plan, with milestones for
monitoring progress and obtaining customer feedback, should now be approved by
the ESC.
The
ESC should allow the process owners (QMB) to manage the changes and hold them
accountable.
Implementation
requires a commitment to change and systems in place to support that change,
more than just meetings, briefings, and plans that address the change. The QMB
members own the process and are responsible for determining how the
effectiveness and efficiency of the new practices will be measured. Lessons
learned should be shared throughout the organization.
C.
Celebrate successes.
Don't
be shy about celebrating and rewarding success. Feedback, praise, and rewards
can prove to be great motivators. The organization will have an easier time
doing the next benchmarking project if this one goes well.
Output of Step 9: The
output of Step 9 is the input for Step 10.
- Action plan.
Quality
Advisor's Checklist
Before
moving to the next step, the quality advisor should review the following
checklist:
·
Is the action plan clear?
·
Does the action plan show how the gaps in performance will be closed?
·
Does the action plan lead to necessary and sufficient changes?
·
Has the QMB supported and praised the BMK Team for its work and
recognized its accomplishments?
·
Has the ESC supported and praised the QMB for its work and recognized its
accomplishments?
·
Is the organization ready to support and successfully implement the
changes to the process?
·
Is a process in place to implement this action plan?
·
Are funds and rewards in place to implement this action plan?
Disclaimer: This material is for training purposes only. Its purpose is to inform employers of best practices in occupational safety and health and general OSHA compliance requirements. This material is not, in any way, a substitute for any provision of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 or any standards issued by OSHA.