Assessing Global Performance in Universities: An Application of Balanced Scorecard

Abstract

Universities act in order to create and communicate knowledge, mainly via research and teaching. They require a reporting system which supports these aims and tracks performance. This paper explores the balanced scorecard (BSC) to ensure reporting practices by universities. Particularly, the research considers the BSC as a strategic tool that can be used by the universities administration and other stakeholders to capture the multidimensional aspects of universities' performances. The paper employs as a research approach a literature review of the BSC. This study is framed as follows: review of the literature on the BSC and its aims; analysis of the use of the BSC by the university administration, given their multidimensional performances; finally, development of a model to suit University context.The model, applied to an Italian University identifies contemporary reporting practices and gaps in universities. The developed model contributes to the debate on internal and external reporting within Italian universities and highlights possible future benefits of the use of the BSC reporting model in universities.