International Journal of Business Science and Applied Management (Jan 2012)

Developing a performance measurement system for public research centres

  • Masella, C.,
  • Dal Molin M.,
  • Azzone, G.,
  • Arena, M.,
  • Agostino, D.

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7, no. 1
pp. 43 – 60

Abstract

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This study aims at developing a performance measurement system (PMS) for research and development (R&D) activities carried out by public research centres. Public research institutions are characterized by multiple stakeholders with different needs, and the management of R&D activities requires balancing the multiple goals of different stakeholders. This characteristic is a key issue in the process of construction of the PMS. Empirical evidence is provided by an Italian public research centre, where the researchers carried out a project aimed to develop a PMS following action research principles. This project gave the possibility to researchers to interact with different stakeholders and integrate their different information needs in a comprehensive set of key performance indicators (KPIs). As a result, multidimensional framework for measuring R&D performance in a public research centre is proposed and a set of Key Performance Indicators is developed, suggesting implications for academics and practitioners.

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