To draw meaningful qualitative conclusions, it helps to base them on a solid baseline. I may say I am healthy, rich, famous, and successful, and you may have a completely different opinion about me. In such cases, both of us may be right in our own view. However, if I say I am healthy, rich, famous, and successful compared to the average of Perth’s population within the 30–50 age group, this is no longer just an opinion—it’s based on a defined measure.
A baseline gives clarity about where I stand today and what steps I need to take to progress further. Similarly, when we claim our technological assets are aging or our outdated business systems are pain, that remains merely an opinion until we define a baseline for comparison.
To truly understand our current state, we must first establish a baseline against which we can measure our systems, develop a roadmap for future improvements, and track our progress.
The bottom line is: understand your current state against industry benchmarks, then plan your journey forward.
