Definitions of Benchmarking on the Web:

• The process of setting "benchmarks," which means identifying accurate historical data against with a data set can be compared now and in the future. In some cases the term has come to mean goals, which confuses participants in dialogue about indicators.
  indicators.top10by2010.org/glossary.cfm

   

• Continuous measurement of a process, product, or service compared to those of the toughest competitor, to those considered industry leaders, or to similar activities in the organization in order to find and implement ways to improve it. This is one of the foundations of both total quality management and continuous quality improvement. Internal benchmarking occurs when similar processes within the same organization are compared. ...
  www.jcaho.org/accredited+organizations/sentinel+event/glossary.htm

   

• Measuring progress toward a goal at intervals prior to the anticipated attainment of the goal. FOR EXAMPLE, measuring and tracking grade-level performance of students in a remedial program at intervals prior to completion of the program.
  www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/evaluation/glossary/glossary_b.htm

   

• A continuous process of measurement of products, services and work processes, against those recognised as leaders.
  thequalityportal.com/glossary/b.htm

   

• Performance comparison of organization business processes against an internal or external standard of recognized leaders. Most often the comparison is made against a similar process in another organization considered to be "world class."
  emissary.acq.osd.mil/inst/share.nsf/Glossary

   

• A process of studying successful competitors (or organizations in general) and selecting the best of their actions or standards. In the new product program it means finding the best development process methods and the best process times to market and setting out to achieve them.
  www.shapetomorrow.com/resources/glossaryofterms.html

   

• The process of comparing performance against the practices of other leading companies for the purpose of improving performance. Companies also benchmark internally by tracking and comparing current performance with past performance.
  www.blinco.com/solutions/glossary/logisticsae.htm

   

• The process of re-estimating statistics as more complete information becomes available. Estimates are usually calculated using only a sample of the universe (total count). Therefore, benchmarking allows for correction of estimating errors. New benchmarking levels are introduced on an annual basis.
  www.vec.virginia.gov/vecportal/lbrmkt/glossary.cfm

   

• Comparing information of one entity to like information of another entity or composite group for the purpose of determining areas for potential improvement and to identify the best practices.
  www.harperrisk.com/ArtGlossary/ArtGlossab.htm

   

• The comparison of similar processes across organizations and industries to identify best practices, set improvement targets and measure progress. Benchmarking results may serve as potential targets for Balanced Scorecard measures.
  www.balancedscorecard.biz/Glossary.html

   

• Rating your company's products, services and prac­tices against those of the front-runners in the industry.
  www.powerhomebiz.com/Glossary/glossary-B.htm

   

• The process for identifying standards to use in comparison of practices, activities, institutions or equipment; standards my be used to identify minimal levels or for determining relative performances for comparison of subjects.
  www.teach-nology.com/glossary/terms/b/

   

• identifying processes and results that represent best practices and performance for similar activities, inside or outside the organisation. This term is often confused with "Competitive Comparisons"
  www.unisa.edu.au/pas/qap/planning/glossary.asp

   

• In the context of Tasmania Together, benchmarking is an active process that sets standards for a particular activity or goal, identifies targets or interim steps required to meet the standards, and selects specific indicators or measures of progress along the way. Benchmarks is the term used to collectively identify the standards, targets and indicators. A standard is a measurable statement that supports a goal. Example: to reduce the crime rate in Tasmania. ...
  www.tasmaniatogether.tas.gov.au/tastog_original/tt_glossary.html

   

• The practice of studying the methods of an acknowledged leader in an industry as a way of setting standards for one's own operation.
  www.hometravelagency.com/dictionary/ltrb.html

   

• is a process of comparing organisational performance and practices with others (preferably leaders) in the same or different industries.
  wps.prenhall.com/wps/media/objects/213/218150/glossary.html

   

• Tests functions, particularly efficiency and price of outputs, against a standardised function or set of achievements, to place it in the context of its peers.
  www.finance.gov.au/pubs/AnnualReport99-00/gloss.htm

   

• the act of comparing measurement to a benchmark. External benchmarking seeks to compare internal measurement to measurement from an external source. Internal benchmarking seeks to compare internal measurements to historic internal measurements.
  accuracybook.com/glossary.htm

   

• Searching for the best practices or competitive practices that will help define superior performance of a product, service, or support process. Competitive benchmarking allows a company to know precisely where their operation is in relation to a direct competitor, to determine its competitive position, and to identify major performance gaps. ...
  strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/internet/instco-levc.nsf/en/h_qw00037e.html

   

• Occurs when the retailer sets its own standards and measures performance based on the achievements of its sector of retailing, specific competitors, high-performance firms, and/or the prior actions of the company itself.
  www.prenhall.com/rm_student/html/glossary/b_gloss.html

   

• Benchmarking is the process of continuously measuring and comparing one’s business processes against comparable processes in leading organizations and industry best practices to obtain information that will help the organization identify and implement improvements.
  www.promitheas.com/glossary.php

   

• Comparison of one organization's performance with a group of other organizations, on some particular group of measures. The best performing organization is considered to have best practice, and other organizations may adopt its methods.
  www.audiencedialogue.org/gloss-eval.html

   

• The analysis of effective processes in other organizations to determine standards of performance and the processes used to achieve them. This involves an ongoing process of collecting data and comparing results.
  www.fiu.edu/~pie/sec8appglossary.htm

   

• A process of searching out and studying the best practices that produce superior performance. Benchmarks may be established within the same organization (internal benchmarking), outside of the organization with another organization that produces the same service or product (external benchmarking), or with reference to a similar function or process in another industry (functional benchmarking).
  www.qaproject.org/methods/resglossary.html

   

• Comparison of a company's products, services or financial figures with the best in its particular sector.
  www.schulergroup.com/en/20investorrelations/50boersenglossar/

   

• Benchmarking (also "best practice benchmarking" or "process benchmarking") is a process used in management and particularly strategic management, in which companies evaluate various aspects of their business processes in relation to best practice, usually within their own industry. This then allows companies to develop plans on how to adopt such best practice. ...
  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benchmarking