Internal, competitive, functional and generic benchmarks

Summary of Benchmarking: Abstract

Benchmarking (B) is a systematic comparison of organizational processes and performance to create new standards or to improve processes. B models are used to determining how well a business unit, division, organization or corporation is performing compared with other similar organizations. A Benchmark is often used for improving communication, professionalizing the organization / processes or for budgetary reasons. Traditionally, performance measures have been compared with previous measures from the same organization at different times. Although this can be a good indication of the rate of improvement within the organization, it could be that although the organization is improving, the competition is improving faster.

There are four types of B methods:

1. Internal (benchmark within a corporation, for example between business units)

2. Competitive (benchmark performance or processes with competitors)

3. Functional (benchmark similar processes within an industry)

4. Generic (comparing operations between unrelated industries)

Typically, B models involves the following steps:

- scope definition

- choose benchmark partner(s)

- determine measurement methods, units, indicators and data collection method

- data collection

- analysis of the discrepancies

- present the results and discuss implications / improvement areas and goals

- make improvement plans or new procedures

- monitor progress and plan ongoing benchmark.

B is a tough process that needs a lot of commitment to succeed. More than once benchmarking projects end with the 'they are different from us' syndrome or competitive sensitivity prevents the free flow of information that is necessary. However comparing performances and processes with 'best in class' is important and should ideally be done on a continuous basis (the competition is improving its processes also...).

Historically, B is based on Kaizen and competitive advantage thinking.

Book: Christopher E. Bogan, Michael J. English - B for Best Practices: Winning Through Innovative Adaptation

Book: Peter Bolstorff, Robert Rosenbaum - Supply Chain Excellence: A Handbook for Dramatic Improvement Using the SCOR Model

Book: Joe Zhu - Quantitative Models for Performance Evaluation and B: Data Envelopment Analysis With Spreadsheets and Dea Excel Solver

👀	TIP: On this website you can find much more about Benchmarking!

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