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Benchmarking

What is benchmarking?

Benchmarking is a strategic and analytical process of continuously measuring an organization's products, services, and practices against a recognized leader in the studied area for the purpose of improving business performance.

Benchmarking and Best Practices

OQM will identify and publish best practices in public and private sector services that are relevant to ORS divisions and branches. We will also identify and publicize ORS "best practices" through our web page. Through sharing with other organizations, we will seek to identify and incorporate practices that will contribute to better performance.
In addition, benchmarking studies can be facilitated by OQM for ORS divisions pursuing their goal of providing excellent services to their customers. OQM will make sure that the variables under study are comparable in nature and scope.

Why should we use benchmarking?

Benchmarking can greatly enhance an organization's performance by providing the following:

  • Industry Trend Forecast - Provides numerous indicators on where a particular business might be headed, which ultimately may pave the way for the organization to take a leadership position.
  • Emerging Technologies - Helps leaders uncover technologies that are changing rapidly, newly developed, or state-of-the-art.
  • Strategic Planning - Assists an organization in clarifying and shaping its vision of the future.
  • Goal Setting - Improves your ability to know what goals are realistic and attainable.
  • Maximized Award-winning Potential - Many prestigious award programs, such as the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award Program, the federal government's President's Quality Award Program, and numerous state and local awards recognize the importance of benchmarking and allocate a significant percentage of points to organizations that practice it.
  • Executive Order #12862, "Setting Customer Service Standards" Compliance – Aligns organizations with mandated government order.
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What part of my organization should I select for benchmarking?

To identify where in your organization you can start benchmarking:

  • Review goals and objectives of your organization's strategic plan
  • Identify your organization's significant processes
  • Identify new customer needs

Types of Benchmarking:


(The Benchmarking web page was adapted from the Department of the Navy Benchmarking Handbook)