Features of Benchmarking

The major features of benchmarking are as follows:

• It is a managerial tool.
• It is a procedure of continuous learning and this learning comes from others through exchange of knowledge experiences.
• It is to identify best practices and compare along with current performance.
• It is to add the value to utility performance.
• It is a practical approach in that step changes in performance could be achieved through replicating the best practices already undertaken through someone else. It gives better understanding of the 'big picture' and gaining a broader perspective of the interplay of the enablers that facilitate the implementation of good practice.
• It provides impetus for seeking new ways of doing things that comes by learning only. So it gives opportunities for staff to learn new skills and be included in the transformation procedure from the outset.
• It promotes a culture that is receptive to fresh approaches and ideas and creates an atmosphere of awareness.
• It provides the greater confidence to staff in developing and applying new approaches since it is already tested and applied somewhere else.
• It helps to improve quality, productivity and assist to recognize priorities for improvement.
• It allows a huge range of performance indicators to be studied and performance shortfall to be clearly seen.
• It is for standardization.
• It is for validation of data.
• It is to enhance performance of utility through data collection and analysis.

• The last and most significant feature is to satisfy customers and to develop interest and motivation inside the organization along with an urge to improve performance.