Operational management indicators
Since 1993 CERM PI Operational Management Performance Indicators for public
sports and leisure centres have been compiled from information supplied by
managers of Australian sports and leisure centres. Consequently,
longitudinal variations and trends can be assessed.
Benchmarks are published in six categories according to centre type and size. The two key indicators identified by experienced centre managers are:
- Visitis per square metre, and
- Expense recovery
A further set of working indicators, eg. 'catchment multiple', 'labour cost share' and 'secondary spending', help interpret why a key indicator for an individual centre might be lower or higher than the CERM PI benchmark.
Sports and leisure centre managers who are subscribers to the CERM PI project and who participate in the annual Operational Management survey are sent a copy of their own centre's results as well as the median results (mid value) for the group of centres in which their centre is categorised.
Centre managers are encouraged to consider their own centre's efficiency results against their previous year's results as well as with indicators for the group of similar centres. Indicators that vary substantially from the medians can be further examined to assist understanding of operational strengths and weaknesses. For example, if an indicator is well above a favourable median value, it may be helpful to identify why, and to ensure that strategies are in place to sustain this competitive edge.
Similarly, if a centre manager notes any indicator that is well below a favourable median value, it will be important to identify whether this is a potential problem area, or simply the result of unique circumstances which are understood and accepted by that centre.
The full list of the most recent Operational Management Performance Indicators for public sports and leisure centres is published in the CERM Performance Indicators annual Bulletin and is available for subscribers to the CERM PI project. Best practice (75th percentile) figures are available in a CERM Performance Indicators Review which includes CSO data. Data for other sub-categories, eg. centres in regional locations is also available.