The History of Benchmarking

Benchmarking is over 2,500 years old and originates in China. In 500 B.C., Chinese general Sun  Tzu wrote "If you know your enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the results of a hundred battles." These words translate easily to the business world today, where solving ordinary business problems, conducting management battles, and surviving the marketplace are all forms of war.

The Japanse also have a word, of unknown age...dantotsu, meaning striving to be the "best of the best."  It is the very essence of benchmarking.  By coupling Sun Tzu's rules with the constant search for dantotsu, you will get benchmarking as it is currently known in the United States.