As technologies and laws continue to evolve, and more people move into urban centers, cities are looking for ways to become smarter – and safer. Today, more than half of the world’s population lives in an urban area. It is predicted that by 2030, our planet will have 41 mega-cities with more than 10 million inhabitants each. After all, a successful city attracts businesses, fosters innovation and provides incredible opportunities for its citizens. But how do we construct and manage cities so that everything, and everyone, flows smoothly today and in the future? How can we ensure that cities are resilient and continue to succeed as they grow?

Organizations of all sizes and types, from Fortune 500 companies to grassroots non-governmental organizations, periodically turn to strategic planning to reconnect with their core values, articulate their mission and chart goals and objectives to help them achieve their long-term vision.

Security executives frequently come to us to request assistance in benchmarking their processes or performance metrics with similar companies. Usually we find that their interest is at least partially driven by a strong push from management. Business leaders recognize benchmarking as a proven business practice that can identify competitive strengths and vulnerabilities as well as opportunities for improvement. Benchmarking can inform corporate goal-setting and can play a significant role in strategic planning.