How to "Jump-Start" every Benchmarking Project you run

This exclusive, two-stage Project Organizer gives your Benchmarking team the tools to undertake and run a successful Benchmarking project without using consultants.

Stage 1 is a 16-Step, practical Benchmarking Blueprint (see below) - use it to get each successive Benchmarking project up-and-running fast.

Stage 2 is a Training Toolkit, which presents the 15 tools and techniques needed to manage information gathering, data presentation, decision making, and planning.

Use the Blueprint to streamline and manage all your Benchmarking projects and standardize data collection/analysis - then use the Toolkit to train the members of your Benchmarking team.

Follow these steps as you use the Project Blueprint to run each Benchmarking project

Step 1 Understand what drives Benchmarking.  Step 2 Make the decision to Benchmark.  Step 3 Develop a vision and mission.  Step 4 Agree core processes and objectives.  Step 5 Agree Key Performance Indicators.  Step 6 Decide what to Benchmark.  Step 7 Choose internal or external Benchmarking.  Step 8 Select external Benchmarking partners.

Step 9 Set up Benchmarking teams.  Step 10 Analyse and map the existing process.  Step 11 Use interviews, surveys and visits.  Step 12 Review and analyse data.  Step 13 Identify change and how to implement it.  Step 14 Measure and monitor improvement.  Step 15 Tie feedback to continuous improvement.  Step 16 Repeat the cycle.

At each step, the Blueprint lists recommended actions, with details of relevant techniques. So:

• Step 2 tells you how to assess whether the necessary commitment, awareness, measures and resources exist. Then it explains how to assess the training needs of your Benchmarking team.
• Step 5 includes a full self-assessment to help the team identify Key Performance Indicators.
• Step 11 compares soft and hard data, and includes sample surveys, interviews and measures.

A Unique Guide to Benchmarking "Do's" and "Dont's"

To guarantee success, this Special Study gives you a full checklist to use at each stage of every Benchmarking project you run. It sets out the "do's" and "dont's" for the Benchmarking "Champion", the steering group and for the project team.

Learn from Benchmarking at Motorola
The Special Study includes a full Case Study from Motorola. This explains * what works and what doesn't * how to avoid the biggest single problem in Benchmarking * how to make sure your expectations are realistic.

30 success factors and pitfalls are explained in detail, with full guidelines on how to anticipate and side-step the most common problems. Circulate and use the checklist each time you run a Bench-marking project - hold the detailed guidelines for further advice and reference if you need it.

Study this volume before you run your first Benchmarking project, then make sure your project teams use the Checklist to "audit" each new Benchmarking project as it is being planned and run.