Abstract

Benchmarking is used to identify successful experiences and achievements of business to develop and improve organizational performance. This study was carried out to determine the frequency of benchmarking by managers and expert specialists of vice chancellor for health in the universities of Medical Sciences of Iran as well as its relationship with individual and organizational factors. This cross-sectional study was conducted in spring 2010 among all the managers and expert specialists of vice chancellor for health of 13 universities which were selected by stratified and systematic randomized methods. A valid and reliable questionnaire consisted of individual and organizational variables was used to collect data. From 293 managers and expert specialists who were studied, 75 persons (26.5) were entitled to improve and develop their organizational performance and 167 cases were entitled of successful experiences and achievements of other organizations. Most of benchmarks (46.7) were of through site visit, 86.2 of benchmarks health field and 91 of benchmarks were within the country. Between individual and organizational factors only the educational degree of the community had a significant relationship with benchmarking rates (p<0.045). Benchmarking capita among managers and expert specialists were low which suggests that in order for benchmarking to be promoted and developed, designing and implementing intervention programs is necessary. © Medwell Journals, 2011.