Which of the following is NOT a consideration when defining a baseline?

Feedback from external stakeholders is typically not considered a primary factor when defining a baseline. A baseline is essentially a standard or point of reference used to measure performance, gauge progress, and make comparisons over time within an organization.

When establishing a baseline, measuring critical success factors is crucial, as these metrics directly relate to the objectives of the organization. Furthermore, aligning with industry standards is vital to ensure that the organization meets or exceeds the expected levels of performance and can be compared reliably with peers. Data collection methods are also important because they determine the accuracy and reliability of the measurements being taken.

While feedback from external stakeholders is valuable for several other aspects of business and operations—such as customer satisfaction, product features, or service delivery—it is less relevant at the specific stage of defining a baseline. Baselines are primarily internally focused to ensure that they reflect the organization’s internal processes and performance metrics, rather than the perceptions or evaluations from outside parties.