You are a benchmarking consultant. Empire staff has shared this information with you, and it wants to know why you think benchmarking is an appropriate course for it to follow. Is benchmarking likely to help Empire Communications? What will you tell it?

2. Does the pattern of spending more than the average in some areas and under the average in others suggest anything to you(relative to previous chapters)? How will this influence any benchmarking strategy?

3. How would you determine the best process areas for benchmarking?

4. Given the fact that the telecom industry is extremely competitive, is it likely that Empire will find willing benchmarking partners among its competitors? If not, what would you do?

5. Develop a recommendation for Empire Communications for how you propose to lead it through the benchmarking activity and what it should expect to gain from it.

Please add references as well.