Roadmap: How to Adopt the Setting Up a Performance Measurement System Practice
This roadmap describes how to adopt the Setting Up a Performance Measurement System practice so you understand whether your organization is performing as desired, and to guide you in what actions to take to improve your performance.
Main Description

Getting Started

Begin by identifying (or confirming) your organization's business objectives. Confirm that each objective is quantifiable so that you can monitor your progress at achieving it. This information will drive the requirements for your measurement system.

Review the concept of Multi-tiered Measurement. As you identify your objectives, identify measurements at the business, operational, and practice levels. Work with stakeholders to prioritize the list of objectives and measures at each level.

A measurement infrastructure is required to collect and report on the measurement data. Specify and configure the hardware and software environment that will support the organization's performance measurement system.

Common Pitfalls

  • The adoption of a Performance Measurement program will require organizational change. It is critical that the adopting organization's executive management be willing to embrace change and be committed to providing the resources required to ensure the success of this endeavor.
  • A business objective that cannot be measured cannot be met. Poorly defined business objectives or objectives not tied to business performance result in wasted effort and cannot be evaluated as to whether the goal was ever met.
  • Manual collection and reporting of measurement data will hinder adoption of the performance measurement system. Automate these mechanisms to reduce the burden on project teams.