Which of the following could be a limitation of benchmarking?

Benchmarking serves as a valuable tool for organizations aiming to improve their processes and performance by comparing themselves to best practices in their industry. However, one of the notable limitations of benchmarking is that it may lead to a lack of originality. This occurs when organizations focus so heavily on what competitors or industry leaders are doing that they neglect to develop their unique strategies or innovations. Instead of creating original ideas, an organization might end up merely replicating what others have done, stifling creativity and hindering the potential for breakthrough advancements.

In contrast, the other options highlight the positive aspects of benchmarking. Measuring performance objectively is one of the primary benefits, as it provides a clear standard against which to evaluate efficiency and effectiveness. Additionally, benchmarking can help set strategic goals based on the performance levels of other organizations, thereby guiding companies toward improvement. Furthermore, while it is true that benchmarking can foster innovation by revealing gaps or areas for improvement, there is a risk that an overemphasis on this practice might limit innovative thinking in some organizations.