Style Sheets

A performance measure’s value evolves from its ability to instigate and/or influence action. To do this, the measure must accurately reflect materially important performance parameters and present that information in a timely, readily understandable manner. It is to this later characteristic that performance metric style sheets are critically important.[wcm_restrict plans=”41741, 25542, 25653″]

General Performance Metric Style Sheet Characteristics

Style sheets reflect the graphic manner in which a performance metric is presented. These sheets should be aligned among types of measures and general characteristics so to consistently represent information to their readers thereby minimizing the chance of misinterpretation. Furthermore, they should possess several best practice display characteristics to maximize the metric’s value including:

• Identify the metric owner and maintainer (see StrategyDriven Organizational Performance Measures Best Practice articles, Map Performance Measure Ownership and RACI Matrix)
• Present performance data graphically using an appropriate chart type (see StrategyDriven Organizational Performance Measures whitepaper, Types) and tabularly for individual metrics
• Provide a legend for the indicated performance parameter(s)
• Reveal performance trends including action thresholds graphically and tabularly (see StrategyDriven Organizational Performance Measures Best Practice articles, Predefined Action Thresholds and Multiple Action Thresholds)
• Indicate the direction of improving performance visually
• Define the performance measure in written and mathematical formats for individual metrics
• Establish performance goals/bands typically represented by a color (see StrategyDriven Organizational Performance Measures Best Practice article, Performance Measures and Thresholds Aligned with Regulatory Standards)
• Offer performance analysis including follow-up actions and their owners for individual metrics

Types of Style Sheets

Performance measures tend to aggregated information relative to the organizational level of the individuals for whom they are intended. Thus, the metrics presented to senior executives tend to aggregate vast amounts of information where metrics intended for first line managers tend to be very granular. Consequently, the style sheets associated with the various aggregations of performance data reflect the above characteristics each in a different manner. The sections below illustrate three different types of performance measure style sheets reflective of increasingly granular metrics presentations.

Business Unit/Fleet Level Executive Dashboard Style Sheet

Business unite/fleet level executive dashboards are collections of ‘window’ type performance indicators typically provided to the most senior executives. These dashboard style sheets possess the following characteristics (see Figure 1):

1. Show the past three months high-level performance rating color with the most recent month to the right. This reveals a quarterly performance trend.
2. Fleet average and facility level indicators reflect both the business unit’s performance as well as that of its individual components.
3. Individual window indicators are color coded, reflecting the performance against established standards, as well as providing an actual performance value. Clicking on a window takes the user to the next lower level dashboard or indicator thereby providing additional performance details.

Department/Facility Level Executive Dashboard Style Sheet

Department/facility level executive dashboards are simplified individual metrics collections typically provided to the directors and managers. These dashboard style sheets possess the following characteristics (see Figure 2):

Title Area

• Window Indicators: A = month -2, B = month – 1, C = current month

Graphic Area

• Easy to read graphic representation of the data with readily observable or indicated trend (typically bar chart, line graph, or combo)
• Direction of ‘good’ indicated
• Goals are shown on / incorporated into the graphic (colored background or embedded lines)
• Numeric Y-axis has zero reference, units of measure label, and units shown
• Date X-axis typically starts on the calendar year or 12 months ago and reflects data monthly
• Legend is provided

Individual Performance Measure Style Sheet

Individual performance measures are the most granular representations of organizational performance typically used by those managers and supervisors directly responsible for the indicated performance. These dashboard style sheets possess the following characteristics (see Figure 3):

Title Area

• Owner (with contact information) and Maintainer (with contact information)
• Window Indicators: A = month -2, B = month – 1, C = current month

Graphic Area

• Easy to read graphic representation of the data with readily observable or indicated trend (typically bar chart, line graph, or combo)
• Direction of ‘good’ indicated
• Goals are shown on / incorporated into the graphic (colored background or embedded lines)
• Numeric Y-axis has zero reference, units of measure label, and units shown
• Date X-axis typically starts on the calendar year or 12 months ago and reflects data monthly
• Legend is provided

Tabular data for the months shown including subdivisions and totals if used (common for stacked bar charts)

Analysis Area

1. Definition, both written and mathematical
2. Performance Measure Goals including basis and numeric values
3. Analysis of current performance and trend
4. Actions being taken to improve performance, if needed

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About the Author

Nathan Ives is a StrategyDriven Principal and Host of the StrategyDriven Podcast. For over twenty years, he has served as trusted advisor to executives and managers at dozens of Fortune 500 and smaller companies in the areas of management effectiveness, organizational development, and process improvement. To read Nathan’s complete biography, click here.