What Does Benchmarking Deliver?

Benchmarking is not a panacea. It will not correct a flawed business model, nor will it force an organization to make the necessary changes—that is the job of the leader. It does, however, serve up a wealth of positive possibility.

The following are just some of the reasonable expectations one should have for a successful benchmarking effort

• Awaken competitive drive by providing a clear vision of what is attainable
• Disclose and display the hidden links between process and result
• Stimulate an objective review of practices, systems, and metrics
• Raise questions and challenge business methods that merit greater scrutiny
• Provide evidence to support business cases for change
• Provide means to help overcome barriers to change adoption