Benchmarking Strategy And The Edge Of Technology
Things around us seem to be moving quite fast. Rapid change somehow has become the norm, at least for many. What is your benchmarking strategy? Are you working off the latest or processing on dated belief?
Experience as a Tool
Experience is a wonderful tool. While it may seem odd to label experience a tool, it is something we use to constructively solve problems. Are you drawing upon your past experiences to create a path for the future?
If yes, good, because it certainly can be constructive. At the same time though, individual experience can sometimes be a roadblock.
We have several ways to create metrics or measurements for project evaluation or future strategy. We can measure against past performance (our data), we can measure against benchmark data (public information), or we can measure against management expectations.
What are you measuring against? None of these, one of these, or maybe a combination?
Compared to History
Things are changing rapidly. Our technology and information are a driver for rapid change. In the past 125 or 150 years we have seen an incredible pace of change.
The best way to go to the market to buy or sell products 150 years ago was likely a horse and wagon.
Today going to the market is accessible for buying and selling from a small device held in your hand. Technology which has developed and accelerated in just the past twenty years, some would suggest in the past ten.
An ever present dynamic to all of this is the access to technology. In some cases, it is a willingness to access it.
Benchmarking Strategy
New benchmarks will be set today. Tomorrow more new benchmarks. The day after, the same. We can find many of them on the internet.
Your work group, department, and leadership team will choose whether to access the latest benchmark data or not. What is the benchmarking strategy you are using?
When you strong arm strategy from your personal experiences, you tend to create a future based on the past.
Get out and see what is happening on the edge.
-DEG
Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSPTM), and corporate trainer. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.
