Which type of benchmarking involves evaluating a business process in a similar department within the same organization?

Internal benchmarking involves evaluating a business process within the same organization, specifically comparing practices and performance metrics from different departments or divisions. This type of benchmarking is beneficial because it allows organizations to identify best practices internally without the need to share sensitive information with external entities. By leveraging internal data, companies can enhance learning, drive performance improvements, and foster a culture of continuous improvement.

In the context of internal benchmarking, the focus is on using data from similar departments that operate under the same organizational structure and policies, providing insights that are highly relevant to the specific context of the organization. This approach can also promote healthy competition among departments, motivating them to adopt best practices observed in other areas of the organization.

Other types of benchmarking, such as competitive or functional benchmarking, involve comparisons with outside organizations or departments that may operate under different contexts and practices, which may not always provide applicable insights for internal processes. Generic benchmarking tends to focus on practices across various industries, which could also dilute the relevance of the findings to an organization's specific internal environment.