Benchmarking is a technique to assist organisations to improve their operations. In its most basic form, benchmarking will provide the goal posts for improved performance.

To achieve maximum benefit it should also fulfill two other important functions.

• The first is to provide information about how the best practice organisations achieve their superior performance levels.
• The second, and perhaps most important, is to create a will to change in the organisation.

• One outcome of the process set out on this site is to create change agents within an organisation. These people will have been selected because of their open minds and their ability to become opinion leaders. During the benchmarking process they will have increased their understanding of what is important for the business. They will then see what is possible in other organisations and translate that into what is possible in their own organisation. They then have the choice of stepping back to the status quo, or reaching out to make their organisation world class.
• There is absolutely no value in undertaking a benchmarking exercise unless there is a commitment to follow through after the data is gathered. This commitment must come from the top of the organisation.
• For best results, the benchmarking team will consult widely within the organisation. This will increase the ownership of the process and the results.