But to gain organizational commitment, reach action, and achieve success, management must provide support and ultimate responsibility for communicating and seeing the process through. One requirement is to emphasize the view that benchmarking is not extra work, but rather a way to accomplish more effective work. Leadership support is needed for planning and organizing for benchmarking as well as for making sure the findings are understood and accepted. It is needed for ensuring strategies and performance levels are based on benchmark practices and are recalibrated, as needed, based on benchmark findings. Leaders must assure that the findings are integrated with objectives, goals, and business plan processes.
Communication is also a crucial management function in the benchmarking process.
Leaders must see to it that communications channels and programs are developed to inform professionals and administrative staff of progress toward benchmark targets and goals. They must also publicize and recognize how benchmarking has been used successfully. The publicity serves an important educational purpose. In addition, management must have and communicate a sense of patience with the process. Benchmarking is long term.