Benchmarking is a process of research, development and improvement of a specific business plan, as well as the processes, services, products, functions and business practices within an institution, organization or company.
The benchmarking comes from the concept English bench mark, which is used to refer to the benchmark used to determine the height of different places leveling.
Today, the term benchmarking refers to a benchmark, a parameter or comparison of a quality measure or standard for the success of a business.
The benchmarking practice is summarized in three main objectives:
- Comparative study to analyze how other organizations reach higher levels of performance.
- Determine where and what improvements should be applied.
- Use of information and analysis to improve performance and performance.
The practice of benchmarking solves the problems that appear in the company, organization or institution through knowledge of itself and the competition. It is an administration tool like the SWOT analysis that observes the strengths, opportunities, weaknesses and threats of the company or organization.
The benchmarking rests on many of the philosophies of war in the book The Art of War by Sun Tzu.
Types of benchmarking
The benchmarking is a process that can be applied in all areas of the business to identify needed improvements for better performance. The types of benchmarking are:
- Functional or generic: it is the process in which the policies, products, programs and strategies of organizations accredited as being the best or the most advanced are taken as a reference.
- Internal: it is an internal process that identifies the best activities, processes or strategies of the company to take them to a different site, department, operating units or countries, although from the same organization.
- Competitive: it is the process of comparison with direct competition that has the same customer base.
