Reconceptualising benchmarking development in UK organisations: the effects of size and sector

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to explore both the development and reconceptualisation of benchmarking and performance measurement within UK organisations, using a brief literature review, theoretical reconception and an empirical study of UK organisations. Design/methodology/approach – An empirical study was conducted involving UK organisations ( n =156) across a wide range of organizational sizes and sectors. Analysis included the use of descriptives, chi‐square tests and one‐way ANOVA between and within groups. Findings – The findings show how, firstly, organisations are progressing towards benchmarking and performance measurement maturity as traditionally defined. Secondly, the findings show how organisations that have reached this stage are reconceptualising benchmarking and performance measurement to meet fundamentally changing market and operational conditions. Practical implications – The paper gives a structured outline for organisations seeking to design and implement advanced performance measurement and benchmarking methodologies. Originality/value – The concept of lead performance measure and benchmarking is an emergent area of study. This paper shows current developments and makes suggestions for further research.