5 Basic Performance Measures
- Date: 2007-08-14 - Word Count: 603
Share This!
Measure #1 is customer satisfaction
This first is probably the most important of the 5 basic measures. It's the only measure that will connect you with the relevance of the work you're doing. If customers aren't happy, then everyone is wasting at least a portion of their time. Measure how your customer judges the outcome of your product or service, through surveys or at the end of each transaction with the customer. You can ask them directly, give them a survey form, or send them to a website form.
If you also collect data about what aspects of your product or service are most important to customers, it will give you clues about more specific things that might be important to measure also e.g. easy access to support staff or accuracy of bills.
Measure #2 is product/service defects
Defects is a measure of quality, and a translation of what the customer expects your product or service to do, into something you can count to assess how often the product or service actually does what is expected.
Your customer satisfaction measure is a companion to this one. And the extra data collected about what is most important to customers about your product or service will help you define what constitutes a defect (e.g. something breaks, something doesn't operate correctly, a delivery deadline was missed, an invoice has errors).
Measure #3 is cycle time
The time it takes to produce or deliver your product or service for your customer is a surprisingly useful thing to measure. It's not just about meeting the time commitments you made to your customer. It's just as importantly about focusing everyone on the things that make the cycle time what it is. And this is usually dead time between hand-offs in the process, waste and rework due to errors or lax standards, and even things that didn't need to be done at all. An alternative or companion measure to cycle time might be on time delivery, which links it more to the customer's experience. Just remember the value of measuring cycle time for internal benefit too.
Measure #4 is productivity
Productivity is a measure of your process efficiency, and is essentially the rate at which you can produce outputs, relative to the input it takes to do so. A great measure to focus you on eliminating waste and rework in delivering your products and services to your customers. For example, one way to think about productivity is to compare how much you're producing relative the time it takes, such as number of work hours. Another way to think about productivity is about quantity versus cost - how much are you producing, relative to what it costs in resources and labor.
Measure #5 is innovation (or improvement) ideas
Even if you're not ready to call it innovation (call it improvement instead), this fifth basic measure is about stimulating one of the behaviors that support a performance culture, namely making active suggestions about how to improve performance.
Particularly when the first 4 basic measures are shared and discussed among the team, actively measuring something as simple as the number of improvement ideas suggested, or the number of targeted improvements tested or implemented, encourages everyone to deepen their understanding about performance, and how they can influence it.
The 5 basic measures are a springboard, not a solution
Remember; don't try to get it perfect before you begin measuring anything. It's not until you start using measures that you discover new questions and clearer information needs. Use these five basic measures as a springboard to get used to measuring and through their use, get closer to understanding what you really do need to measure.
This first is probably the most important of the 5 basic measures. It's the only measure that will connect you with the relevance of the work you're doing. If customers aren't happy, then everyone is wasting at least a portion of their time. Measure how your customer judges the outcome of your product or service, through surveys or at the end of each transaction with the customer. You can ask them directly, give them a survey form, or send them to a website form.
If you also collect data about what aspects of your product or service are most important to customers, it will give you clues about more specific things that might be important to measure also e.g. easy access to support staff or accuracy of bills.
Measure #2 is product/service defects
Defects is a measure of quality, and a translation of what the customer expects your product or service to do, into something you can count to assess how often the product or service actually does what is expected.
Your customer satisfaction measure is a companion to this one. And the extra data collected about what is most important to customers about your product or service will help you define what constitutes a defect (e.g. something breaks, something doesn't operate correctly, a delivery deadline was missed, an invoice has errors).
Measure #3 is cycle time
The time it takes to produce or deliver your product or service for your customer is a surprisingly useful thing to measure. It's not just about meeting the time commitments you made to your customer. It's just as importantly about focusing everyone on the things that make the cycle time what it is. And this is usually dead time between hand-offs in the process, waste and rework due to errors or lax standards, and even things that didn't need to be done at all. An alternative or companion measure to cycle time might be on time delivery, which links it more to the customer's experience. Just remember the value of measuring cycle time for internal benefit too.
Measure #4 is productivity
Productivity is a measure of your process efficiency, and is essentially the rate at which you can produce outputs, relative to the input it takes to do so. A great measure to focus you on eliminating waste and rework in delivering your products and services to your customers. For example, one way to think about productivity is to compare how much you're producing relative the time it takes, such as number of work hours. Another way to think about productivity is about quantity versus cost - how much are you producing, relative to what it costs in resources and labor.
Measure #5 is innovation (or improvement) ideas
Even if you're not ready to call it innovation (call it improvement instead), this fifth basic measure is about stimulating one of the behaviors that support a performance culture, namely making active suggestions about how to improve performance.
Particularly when the first 4 basic measures are shared and discussed among the team, actively measuring something as simple as the number of improvement ideas suggested, or the number of targeted improvements tested or implemented, encourages everyone to deepen their understanding about performance, and how they can influence it.
The 5 basic measures are a springboard, not a solution
Remember; don't try to get it perfect before you begin measuring anything. It's not until you start using measures that you discover new questions and clearer information needs. Use these five basic measures as a springboard to get used to measuring and through their use, get closer to understanding what you really do need to measure.
Related Tags: custom software development, software development company, software solutions company
SPEC INDIA has developed its own framework for execution of ASP.NET Development &VB.NET development projects for offshore software development and specific products.
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- The No. 1 Rule For Projecting Confidence - Speak With Authority
One of the most important characteristics a person can project in a business setting - or any situat - After the Autumn Checkout European Debt Crisis and U.S. Brewing Rebound
In the commotion caused by the Fed on interest rates come to an end, the "disastrous" for the euro a - Advantages Of Arcade Game Rentals
There are many different advantages to arcade game rentals. Most people need something to release th - A General Primer on Truck Cargo Nets
In modern highways it is quite rare to see truck cargo nets in action, this is because they are usua - The United States Will Burst More Severe Financial Crisis
Not long ago, suddenly announced that the central bank to raise interest rates, the interest rate hi - Niche Marketing Profits - 3 Easy Steps to Finding a Profitable Niche Market Income in 10 Minutes
Like most beginners I was having a very difficult time trying to find a niche market to earn extra m - The Importance of Hospitality Management Consulting Firms Toronto
Businesses and the managers that help guide any business are in a constant state of improvement and - New Keynesian Theory Label
2010 winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics three theories have been labeled as "New Keynesian" labe - Federal Reserve Pouring Money QE2 Unpredictable Fortune
U.S. economist Milton Friedman proposed a "throw the cash from a helicopter" view, while the practic - Fiscal Consolidation Should no Longer Delay
British Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne today announced fiscal consolidation policy, shoc
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Common Financial Problems to Avoid
One must first change their habits and not procrastinate. American Consultants Inc at offers key fi - How a Bad Hire Can Hurt Your Business
What's worse - hiring the wrong person or not hiring anyone at all? Companies can become almost des - Joel Comm Is Dr. Adsense
What is Adsense? If you are new to making money online and net marketing, you may not know what Ads - 5 Steps For A Dynamic Wealth System Online
Recipe: Opportunity + knowledge + Dynamic Wealth System + Your Action = Massive Success!!! Step 1 - How To Stop Foreclosure
Losing your house to a foreclosure can be very scary. There are times when circumstances are ou - How to Always Pitch A Strike
As business owners, we are always working on new ways to convince people to become customers, client - Membrane Diffuser Solutions for Wastewater Treatment Systems
In the aeration basin of a typical wastewater treatment plant there are both organic and inorganic m - Another Year Hating Your Job or Loving Life?
Copyright © 2007 Mary Foley I've come to the conclusion that to be successful - really successf - Dyestuff Industry In India And China
World demand for dyes and organic pigments to touch $10.6 billion in 2008According to a study on dye - Cma-cgm Case : the Series of Lawsuits Continues in Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, France, England and the United States
Damietta company case : The series of lawsuits continues in Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, France, England a