The Global Benchmarking Network (GBN) is an alliance of leading benchmarking centres worldwide who share a common vision and mission.

The GBN was founded in November 1994 by representatives from benchmarking centres in Germany, Italy, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States. The GBN is a non-profit organization. Funding comes from affiliates' annual fees and other sources approved at the annual meeting. It has a Chairman, a Vice Chairman, and a Secretary General. Current membership comprises more than 20 benchmarking centers which represent more than 30,000 business and government agencies.

The BPIR.com website was launched in April 2002. It was developed by the Centre for Organisational Excellence Research (COER), Massey University and later formed into BPIR.com Ltd. Steve Welch one of the creators of the resource serves as the Managing Director and Dr Robin Mann, founder and creator, as the Commercial Director. Dr Robin Mann is also the Director of the Centre for Organisational Excellence Research and Chairman of the Global Benchmarking Network.

The BPIR started out as a project within COER where a team carried out research on what support is provided to organisations, small and large, via the internet, to help improve business performance. The foundation and interest behind the research was strongly linked to the experience of the team as qualified business excellence evaluators using the EFQM and Baldrige models.

The research revealed gaps in the types of services provided in the business improvement arena. Specifically there was no affordable 'one-stop' resource where in-depth information on a full range of issues was made available. Key areas researched included benchmarking; performance measurement; benchmarks; best practice information; high-performing organisations (benchmarking partners); tools and techniques; industry research; and self assessment (tools to diagnose weaknesses within the organisation). With this research outcome firmly in mind the BPIR was developed over a two year period with the aim to help fill these gaps.

Initially, through a careful choice of partners and support from Massey University, the BPIR was further developed and operated as an internal business unit in the University. In January 2006 the unit was formed into the company BPIR.com Limited. The company maintains its strong connection to COER and is moving forward rapidly with its plans for further enhancement of its services. The leadership at BPIR believe in a partnership approach to growth where strengths of like-minded organisations can be harnessed to form a robust service that has depths of expertise within the several areas it operates. Success in forming such partnerships can be seen in the growing list here.

Benchmarking Partnerships (www.benchmarkingpartnerships.com.au), connect best practices, people and their ideas and knowledge. We are owners and sole deliverers of former Australian Quality Council (AQC) Benchmarking & appointed by Asian Productivity Organisation (APO) as Benchmarking subject specialists to assist 20 Asian countries in productivity improvements.

We are a board member of the Global Benchmarking Network community, representing most other continents. We also conduct joint projects with New Zealand Business Excellence Foundation (NZBEF), BPIR.com Ltd. (New Zealand), Singapore Productivity Association (SPA), Thailand Productivity Institute (FTPI), Training and Productivity Authority of Fiji (TPAF) and the APQC (American Productivity and Quality Centre).

Benchmarking Partnerships have facilitated over 100 benchmarking studies across your network of 5,000 people over the past decade. We also utilize our extensive experience in business excellence and knowledge of global best practices to assist individual organisations with our 9 pillars of solutions for large, rapid and sustainable improvements tailored to your specific needs and values.

BCS Management Services, is a consultancy which aims to add value to intermediaries operating in the Management and Business Services area, by maximising opportunities through our knowledge base, international networks and novel approaches.