I am pleased to announce the release of Partnering Change: Benchmarking Corporate Services - A Manual for NSW Public Sector Organisations. This manual has been developed in collaboration with agencies and provides a practical approach to benchmarking methodology and how it can be applied to enhance the value added by corporate services. It offers a sound methodology with step by step guidance, and actual case studies where benchmarking has been applied in diverse public sector corporate services environments. The manual has strong links to current corporate services reform initiatives, including Electronic Self Service (ESS), shared services and the growth of e-procurement. One of the key messages in the manual is the importance of efficient and effective corporate services to core business and the overall strategy of an organisation. I strongly recommend that all agencies complement corporate reform projects with benchmarking. It is a powerful tool that will maximise the realisable benefits from the projects and support your agency's overall strategy for service delivery. The greatest value from benchmarking corporate services will be obtained when the benchmarking includes operational perspectives and is built into organisation-wide strategic planning exercises. There has been a high degree of interest in benchmarking corporate services and in the manual. There is real recognition by agencies of the value of benchmarking corporate services to identify best practice and learn from other organisations. I encourage all agencies to adopt benchmarking as a means to improve their corporate service performance. Copies of the manual will be provided to all agencies under separate cover. Additional copies can be obtained by contacting the Review and Reform Division, NSW Premier's Department on (02) 9228 4870 or accessed on the Internet at www.dpc.nsw.gov.au. The Review and Reform Division (RRD) will also assist agencies in using benchmarking for corporate services by organising pilot projects, providing advice and promoting information sharing (Signed) Dr Col Gellatly Director-General  Issued by: Dr Liz Coombs, Executive Director Review and Reform Division, Premier's Department Telephone: (02) 9228 4870 Date: 24/8/01