Currently there is considerable interest in "re-engineered" institutions in
developing performance measures - both effectiveness and efficiency.
Performance measures however only have meaning when they are measured against
a standard.  While professional museum practises are well known and well
articulated, there is less assurance even in Australia, New Zealand or
Britain, as to what might be appropriate benchmarks against which performance
might be measured.  For example at some museums, performance could be
measured by increase in knowledge gained after viewing an exhibit.  All well
and good but what would be the benchmark - a 5% 10% or 20% gain. I will be
contacting the Benchmark Institute in Texas for their ideas but I am
interested in any benchmarking exercise that museums might have undertaken in
the last while.
Dr.Frits Pannekoek
Director, Historic Sites and Archives
Cultural Facilities and Historical Resources Division
Alberta Community Development
8820-112 Street
Edmonton, Alberta