Benchmarking - Sources of information

Benchmarking - Sources of information
See also
IT management system Call center Technology scouting Marketing information system Certification and accreditation Internal audit Storage documentation Consulting in management Social network marketing strategy

Rhe following types of Benchmarking can be distinguished: internal (where standards for comparison are based on the same company, external (also known as competitive, in which solutions used by the enterprise with the same industry, functional (as a comparison of selected companies in completely different industries, non-competitors).

Sources of information

For full use of benchmarking methods to improve organization, it is necessary to use a wide range of sources and methods of gathering information. List of sources of information are presented in the following table.

Tab.1. Methods and sources of information for benchmarking

Stage	type of benchmarking
	Internal	external and functional
Identification of the benchmarking subject	Opinions of employees Meetings Polling Internal reports Analysis of the documentation, Direct observation and analysis of processes, Analysis of different types of indicators, such as the frequency of complaints, warranty claims, the number of repairs, etc., Consultation with retailers Opinions of experts from outside the company, Publications.
The search for model processes	Opinions of employees, Direct observation and analysis of processes, Polling Internal reports Analysis of the documentation, Internal reports	Benchmarking associations Commercially available database, Professional associations Fairs and exhibitions, Chambers of commerce, Opinions of employees, Brainstorming, Specialized publications, Business intelligence institutions, Consulting companies Materials of scientific conferences, Personal contacts with potential partners, Own database Advertising.
Gathering of information characterizing the standard processes	Direct observation and analysis of processes, Meetings Network diagram flows, Internal reports Analysis of the documentation, Internal publications, Opinions of employees	Carry out direct observations during visits, Interviews conducted with employees of other company, Analysis of shared documentation Polling, Conferences with members of other company, Polling of customers of other company, Internal publications Available literature.

References

• Barber, E. (2004). Benchmarking the management of projects: a review of current thinking. International Journal of Project Management, 22(4), 301-307.

Author: Krzysztof Wozniak