Definition – Benchmarking
is a process widely used in management whereby organisations evaluate various aspects of their processes in relation to accepted good practice within their sector or field. This allows organisations to develop plans on how to adopt such good practices and improve their performance.
Relevance to SUMP – The SUMP Guidelines suggest benchmarking through a peer review process during the “preparing well” phase of SUMP preparation. Benchmarking should however be treated as an ongoing process in which organisations repeatedly seek to challenge and improve their practices. The process of identifying and learning from good practices in other organisations is a powerful tool in the quest for continuous improvement.
Source: ADVANCE, 2013