Benchmarking for sustainability: an application to the sustainable construction industry

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to present a methodology and framework to assist construction firms and contractors in incorporating sustainability measures into their benchmarking efforts. Design/methodology/approach - A methodology that incorporates both strategic and activity-based criteria for identifying areas for benchmarking is developed by modifying an existing methodology of enterprise performance management. The benchmarking framework makes use of aspects from well-established management practices such as activity-based management, balanced scorecard, and multi-attribute decision models. It allows for the integration of sustainability measures into more conventional measures of construction practice. Findings - The paper finds that activity and strategic metrics can be integrated into a framework for benchmarking. Additionally, metrics specific to sustainability can be incorporated with more traditional measures to provide a holistic analysis of construction practices. Practical implications - The framework for sustainable construction is useful for benchmarking. It provides a generic structure, which allows for flexibility when applied to a specific organization. The methodology and model, while geared toward the construction industry, can be easily adapted to other industries. Originality/value - The paper presents a framework for benchmarking in the important area of sustainability within the construction industry. The framework represents a novel integration of activity and strategic analysis into the benchmarking process.