Which of the following is NOT a focus area in benchmarking?

In benchmarking, the primary focus areas involve comparing specific aspects of products, services, or processes to understand performance relative to competitors or best practices. Product performance, features of the product, and costs associated with the product are all integral components that organizations analyze to improve their offerings and maintain competitiveness.

Product performance refers to how well a product meets its specifications and fulfills customer requirements, while features pertain to the attributes that distinguish a product from others in the market. Costs connected with the product are critical as they directly impact profitability and can inform pricing strategies.

Employee satisfaction, while important for overall organizational health, does not specifically relate to the benchmarking of products or services. Instead, it deals more with internal metrics related to workplace morale and human resources. Hence, it is the area that is typically excluded when discussing the focus of benchmarking in the context of product realization.