Metrics_ How to Improve Key Business Results - Martin Klubeck [147]
IT Solutions/Business Intelligence Tools
Many “IT solution” companies now include dashboards and scorecards in their service packages. This is a clear indicator of the need for metrics and the power of software to help deliver them. IT solutions packages may include the metrics tools as an add-in to the suite of services—pulling the data byproducts from key offerings (process control, management, architectural design, etc.).
The major difference I've found between these tools and the stand-alone tools is in the scope. If you don't need (or can't afford) a large-scale solution set, you can get a lot out of the tools specifically designed for metrics. If you're looking at purchasing (or already own) a large-scale IT solution, you may want to look into its capabilities to also provide metrics assistance.
ASE 10
An example of a data-centric toolset for organizational improvement using scorecards, dashboards, and measurements is ASE 10, from ActiveStrategy (activestrategy.com). It's a bit complex, but offers pricing based on company size. ASE 10 is heavily based on predefined methodologies, but seems to have enough flexibility to work with the metrics that you design. I haven't used this tool, but it has been recommended by a colleague whose opinion I trust.
The issue for most larger-scale tools is that they may offer too much. Ignoring the cost, these tools offer more capability than most people need—especially if you are just starting on your metrics journey.
Other Tools
Other tools may not fit the definition of a metric tool at all, but be very helpful to your metric efforts. The two examples I offer are at different ends of a scope/size spectrum. QPR is a larger scale process improvement tool which has useful applications to a metrics effort. Powerpivot is a tool which works with (and “in”) Excel.
QPR
QPR (QPR.com) is an example of a business-driven solution. Its scope is so large that I can't tell you about it all. QPR is used mostly by companies outside of the United States; but I believe it will make a big splash on our shores soon. Rather than a simple, lower cost, limited-use tool, QPR's solution is a mid-range, enterprise-level solution.
QPR's web-based solutions can be selected based upon your need. If you need to build an understanding of your processes, one of its tools, “Process Analyzer,” assists in developing business process diagrams using a logging file input structure. If you need to share your database of business processes, “ProcessDesigner” provides that solution. Most metric-centered reporting requirements can be satisfied with the “Metrics” solution. If you need to integrate business process reporting and metrics, a combination of these solutions provide you with an integrated management reporting system.
The cost will reflect its expansive power. I include it as an example of a high-end tool, and because it does so much more (process analysis, process management, etc.) than metrics, the higher costs are no surprise. I especially like that such a nice enterprise-level solution includes specific tools for metrics.
PowerPivot
Unlike most of the tools, PowerPivot isn't an analytical tool at all. It allows you to use Excel to be more like its brother, Microsoft Access—a database tool. Although most metrics are number-based efforts, there are many times when it would be useful to have a relational view of the data. A relational database would be the perfect tool if it had the ability to do mathematical and statistical analysis on the data. PowerPivot promises to give you the best of both worlds—a number-based program you can treat as a relational database. I've been working with its first release and I am looking forward