The importance of using data for measuring performance, benchmarking, and decision-making cannot be overemphasized. In 2017, researchers at the Institute of Child Nutrition, Applied Research Division developed the resource Essential KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) for School Nutrition Success. The resource can be found at the following link: https://theicn.org/ research/ The resource includes 12 KPIs subdivided into three categories. Meal Counts and Participation: • Meal Equivalents (MEQ) • Average Daily Participation (ADP) Financial and Inventory Management: • Revenues • Expenditures • Revenue Per Meal Equivalent (MEQ) • Cost Per Meal Equivalent (MEQ) • Cost as a Percentage of Revenue • Break-even Point (BEP)
• Inventory Turnover Rate Productivity and Labor: • Meals Per Hour (MPLH)
The spreadsheet can be downloaded at the following link: https://theicn.org/research/ A KPI provides a numbers-based approach to target specific areas of emphasis and to assess results in an objective manner. Data from KPIs can be used in benchmarking to establish financial objectives and goals, evaluate these plans, and decide where improvements are possible or necessary. Two types of benchmarking are feasible in school nutrition programs: internal and industry.
• Staff Turnover Rate • Absenteeism Rate
For each KPI, the following information is provided: • A description • A rationale for calculating • Recommendations for how often to calculate • Instructions on how to calculate • Sample calculations • Suggestions on where to find data for making calculations • Factors that influence the outcome of the calculations Additionally, the Institute developed a 12-month interactive spreadsheet that contains each of the KPIs included in the resource. School nutrition professionals can download this spreadsheet at no charge and enter the data
Internal benchmarking Examples of internal
benchmarking would include evaluating the performance
between schools in a district (such as comparing meals per labor hour between schools for a month) or evaluating the performance of a school or the school district over time (such as comparing meals per labor hour for a district as a whole each month for a year).
for their specific programs. The spreadsheet will do the calculations.
Industry benchmarking Industry benchmarking would include comparing a school
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