Speak to any executive, regardless of industry, and they’ll always be fascinated to hear how other companies run similar functions.  When used correctly, benchmarking can be an extremely effective learning and validation tool for leaders who are trying to improve their corporate operation.  Through competitive benchmarking (comparing your team to similar teams at other companies) and best practices benchmarking (comparing your team to known industry leading methods), a corporate leader can quickly gain the validation needed to put positive changes into motion.  This being said, benchmarking is easily the most dangerous method of research available to business leaders who are looking to make an informed decision that will change the way their organization runs.  Before utilizing benchmarks to guide operational changes, leaders should consider organizational culture, data source specificity, and the unique needs of their organization.