Identify what to benchmark
- Assess customer and/or organizational needs and identify where there is room for improvement within the department or functional area
- Determine what resources will be needed to complete the benchmarking project
- Prepare the business case for the benchmarking project in consultation with the Project Owner
- Obtain the support of the Organizational Excellence Steering Committee
- Identify potential members for the Benchmarking Team
- Obtain approval from Organizational Excellence Steering Committee on Team Leader and membership
Introduce the benchmarking process
- Provide an introductory training session to the Benchmarking Team
- Provide the Benchmarking Team with guidance and research support on a continuing basis throughout the benchmarking project
- Coach and mentor the Team Leader on the benchmarking process
Develop the measurement plan
- Define more precisely the parameters of the process and/or policy to be benchmarked
- Determine what to measure (1) to assess the performance of the process and/or policy and, (2) to compare it to a similar process and/or policy at other organizations
Develop the data collection and analysis plan
- Identify internal (within the organization) information and data pertaining to the process and/or policy that will be collected
- Identify external (outside the organization) information and data pertaining to the process and/or policy that will be collected
- Define how the internal and the external information and data will be collected will analyzed
- List potential Benchmarking Partners
- Identify and consult with key internal stakeholders