Final answer:
In benchmarking, organizations compare current practices, analyze them critically, and define routes for improvement. Computing an index score for performance improvement is not a direct step of benchmarking but might be a subsequent measure used.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question relates to the process of benchmarking in a business context. When benchmarking, an organization typically follows these steps: (a) Compare current practices against those of competitors or general industry standards; (c) Analyze and critically evaluate current practices; and (d) Define a systematic route for improving practices. However, (b) Computing an index score that measures the necessary rate of performance improvement is not typically considered a direct step in the benchmarking process itself, but more of a metric or tool that might be used after the benchmarking process to track ongoing progress.