Trend

Show the trend of a standard KPI, either upward, stable, or downward.

The trend symbol represents the gap performance of each standard KPI. The standard KPI's Gap Performance measure is matched to the Stable Gap Performance Range. The symbol is determined by where it fits in that range.

If a KPI does not have a trend symbol, it means the scorecard administrator did not set these values for the KPI.

Each standard KPI may have a trend status indicator that has a trend symbol based on the Gap Performance value.

The KPI Details view shows details about how the trend indicator is determined. For more information, see KPI Details.

Index KPIs do not have a trend indicator.

Status

Shows the status indicator for the row, which identifies performance. Status indicators are determined in different ways depending on the item being measured.

For standard KPIs, the color is determined by matching the Score value of the KPI to the appropriate Index Value specified for the KPI which is matched to a particular color on the color dial.

For index KPIs, the color is determined by matching the Score value of the associated KPIs to the appropriate index values. The index values are processed using a calculation method. The resulting Score value from the calculation is matched to the appropriate color in the Index Values list.

For objectives, the color is determined by matching the Score value of the associated KPIs to the appropriate index values. The index values are processed using a calculation method. The resulting Score value from the calculation is matched to the appropriate color in the Index Values list.

For perspectives, the color is determined by either the status of an associated KPI, or by an index of its associated objectives. Perspectives without status indicators are not being measured.

For a scored context, the color is determined by either the status of an associated KPI, or by an index of its associated perspectives. The context does not have a status indicator if it is not being measured.

For initiatives, the color is determined by the color of its associated KPI. The initiative author sets this association when creating the initiative. Initiatives without status indicators are not being measured.

Actual

The actual value for a standard KPI, along with the target value, determines the KPI's score.

Target

The actual value for a standard KPI, along with the target value, determines the KPI's score.

If you do not see a Target column in the table, but you do see a Forecast or Benchmark column (or something similar), it means your site is set up to use a Type dimension. The Type dimension has members that allow you to switch what is being compared to actual, such as target, forecast, or benchmark. The Dimension Filters allow you to switch from one Type dimension member to another.

Score

The score determines the status indicator color. How this row's score rates in relation to the breakpoint values shown in the Details view determines the color of its status indicator.

For a scored context, the score is determined by the status of the underlying measured perspectives of the context, or by the status of one standard KPI.

For a perspective, the score is determined by the status of the underlying objectives of the perspective, or by the status of one standard KPI.

For an objective, the score is determined by the status of the underlying KPIs of the objective. For more information, see Example of how an Objective's Status Color is Determined.

For standard KPIs, the deviation between the actual value and target value is the standard KPI's score.

For index KPIs, the score is determined by the status of the underlying standard KPIs of the index KPI.

The scorecard administrator determines whether the context or the perspectives will have scores and how the scores will be determined.

Previous Actual

The actual value for a standard KPI from the previous time frame.

The previous time frame is determined by the current reporting date you set in the Scorecard Overviews view in relation to the periodicity for which data is stored for the Actual measure. If data is being reported quarterly and you are displaying a current date of June 30, then the previous actual represents the value at the end of March 31.

Actual % Change

Percentage that the actual value of a KPI changed from the previous period to the current period.

Previous Target

The target value for a standard KPI from the previous time frame.

For information about the previous time frame, see the description of Previous Actual.

Target % Change

Percentage that the target value of a KPI changed from the previous period to the current period.

Perspective

The perspective shows its associated objectives, KPIs, and/or initiatives.

Lead/Lag

Lagging KPIs are commonly financial in nature and represent outcomes based on historical performance. Lagging measures, such as Revenue and Units Sold, show performance of what has happened in the past (yesterday, last week, last quarter).

Leading KPIs are predictors of future performance, and provide direction about which lagging KPIs require more attention. Leading indicators can be used to forecast how lagging measures will perform in the future. Leading measures are a critical factor because they provide an early warning signal for the organization to take actions that are proactive, rather than reactive. They provide insight into the measures that require attention now, so as to prevent performance degradation in the future.

Type

Quantitative KPIs are considered fact-based measurements like number of trouble tickets closed that are based on relational databases or transactional systems such as ERP or CRM.

Qualitative KPIs, like customer satisfaction, are softer and more subjective. Qualitative KPIs are soft measures because they are mostly taken from semi-structured sources such as surveys, emails, or Excel worksheets. It is a subjective rating of the quality of execution of a KPI. Quantitative KPIs are often considered either financial or operations, while qualitative KPIs do not have this distinction.

Unread Comments

Shows a Notation pushbutton with the number of unread comments. The Notation pushbutton displays the Comments dialog box so you can read the comments.

For more information, see Reviewing Comments and Replies.

Associated Initiative

If an initiative author associated a KPI with an initiative, the KPI will show a link to the Initiatives component.

Responsible/Owner

The name of a user who is responsible for this item.

Abnormal KPI Performance

Shows an exclamation point (!) to alert you about an underlying problem. The exclamation point is called a below-the-horizon indicator.

An item has abnormal performance if at least one association used to measure its performance is at least two statuses below the status of the overall item. This gives a clear visual indicator that while the item may be performing satisfactorily, there is an associated element that is in need of attention.

For KPIs, the indicator appears if one or more dimension members is two or more levels below the status of the overall KPI.

For objectives, the indicator appears of one or more KPIs is two or more levels below the status of the overall objective.

Budget Status

Shows whether the initiative is under budget, on budget, or over budget.

The colors of the status indicators are determined as follows:

Schedule Status

Shows whether the initiative is ahead of schedule, on schedule, or behind schedule.

An initiative's schedule status is determined differently based on whether it is active (has no actual end date) or completed (has an actual end date).

If an initiative is active, the initiative derives its schedule status from the milestone that is the most behind schedule. If any of its milestones are behind schedule (red), the initiative is considered behind schedule and has a red status. If any of its milestones are either on time (yellow) or ahead of schedule (green), the initiative is considered ahead of schedule and is colored green. If all milestones are on time (yellow), the initiative is considered on time and is colored yellow. If it does not have any milestones assigned, the initiative does not show any schedule status.

If an initiative is completed, then the initiative derives its schedule status by whether its target end date is before or after the actual end date. If its actual end date is before the target end date, the initiative is ahead (green). If its actual end date is after the target end date, the initiative is behind (red). If its actual end date is the same as the target end date, the initiative is on time (yellow).

Start

Start date of the initiative.

Target End

Expected end date of the initiative.

Actual End

End date of a completed initiative.