In the actual conditions of the globalization and extension of the markets throughout the world wide, the realization of the comparison between products and services, between economic entities, has become an indispensable instrument in the establishment of the real situation of the own firm comparing with that of the other firms and for the identification of the most appropriate practices of improvement of the existent situation. By using some modern management instruments, the firms try to increase their competitiveness in the actual business environment. Benchmarking comes to help the firms surpass the problems, to gain durable competitive advantages through the development of the strengths and by reducing the weaknesses. The paper proposes to emphasize the necessity of using benchmarking, the application methodology, the advantages and the disadvantages of the new process, as well as the concerned critics.

Benchmarking, benchmark, the benchmarking application methodology, performance, the best practices, the advantages and the disadvantages of the benchmarking