Dashboard Performance Management

Leslie Proctor, Author and Coumnists, Corda Technologies

The old saying: “What gets measured gets managed” fits dashboards. The dashboard can be a valuable tool for the success of strategy and tactics. When an executive implements a strategy, it often goes into a void. That is, whether or not the strategy succeeds isn’t known until the initiative is fully implemented. However, effective change requires constant monitoring and strategic adjustment during implementation.

Dashboards are a vital tool in monitoring the success of an initiative against goals. The real-time presentation of information allows executives to make timely adjustments to the strategy. A good strategic dashboard should measure performance against goals, look at leading and lagging indicators and present the information in real time, allowing drill-down for greater insight. Dashboards should be able to pull information from any data source.

Operational dashboards measure tactical success and operational performance. They allow for timely intervention when a Key Performance Indicator goes out of acceptable range. A good operational dashboard should present information in real time, and also allow drill-down and data acquisition from any source.

Performance dashboards bridge strategy and tactics and are a valuable tool for either. They should work in concert with other systems and are a cost-effective way to gain actionable insight.