Xerox Case Study

Evaluate how the strategic benchmarking system can be applied with reference to an organisation you are familiar with. (25 marks)

Strategic benchmarking is done in order to deliver the marked and impressive results so often noted. Strategic benchmarking is “ the process of deciding upon best practices as they relate to the strategies for reaching organizational goals. The practice includes a study of elements such as core competencies, process capability and strategic intent and alliances.” Camp (1989: 05). Its main objective is to devise the ideal strategy for improving organizational performance and how to adapt to ever changing environment with things such as competitors, the industry and the market overall. Assessment of clientele

Planning: At this stage, the company embarked on the act to formulate the course of action through identification of benchmarking outputs, best competitors and to determine the way of collecting data methods for use.

b. Analysis : By this stage, the corporation conducted the external environment (S.W.O.T) scan in order to assess the strengths of competitors (best practice companies) and compare Xerox 's performance with that of its competitors. And to determine the current competitive gap and the projected competitive gap.

c. Integration: This stage determines the new goals or targets of the company and the way in which these will be communicated across the organization. The company goals were developed into the company 's formal planning processes.

d. Action . action plans were implemented and assessed to determine whether the company is achieving its objectives.

e. Maturity: An evaluation on whether the company has attained a superior performance level. This stage also helps the company determined whether benchmarking process has become an integral part of the organization 's formal management

Bean, an American privately owned company which specialises in e-commerce, mail-ordering and a retail company for sporting and outdoor clothes. The company developed a computer software program which manages and monitors its stock from ware house to customers thereby at the same time offering a speed and accurate order filling.

Apart from understudying and implementing the inventory management system as a best practices at L.L Bean, Xerox also introduced a vendor certification process whereby the company processed to extend co-operation between the company and the vendor to just-in time production scheduling that delivers small amounts as per request to enhance supply side.

Lastly the company identified their internal and external customers in order to meet