In project metrics, as in many other areas of management control, benchmarking is a fundamental technique. Whether your products and services are “good enough” depends on what your competitors are offering. But there’s more to benchmarking than just setting performance goals. Instead of limiting yourself to one-to-one comparisons, you can benchmark “laterally,” using real metrics from laterally-chosen products or services to reveal new insights and opportunities.

Michael Dobson is an internationally known project management consultant, author, and lecturer. He's the author of twenty books on various aspects of project management, office politics, organizational dynamics, and personal growth.