GlossaryA metric is a measure or indicator. For example, Fahrenheit scale is a metric regarding temperature.
A performance metric is a measure of how well an individual, organization, community, or government is doing. (A batting average is a performance metric).
A key performance metric measures performance against a critical success factor, or factor of strategic importance.
Outputs are results that occur because of a specific service or intervention.
Performance measurement comprises the activities of collecting, organizing, presenting, and updating performance metrics.
Performance management is using performance measurement to improve performance of an individual, organization, government, or community. Performance management involves analyzing and interpreting performance metrics. Performance management may involve:
- Answering the question, “How well are we performing relative to what?”
- Developing specific measurement plans
Result or outcome is the level of performance for each metric in the current time period. A result can be compared with:
- A baseline: how well did we do last year?
- A benchmark: how well did we do compared to
- another Jewish community?
- Pittsburgh in general?
- Actual need?
- A target or goal: The direction and/or amount of desired performance over a specified time. In terms of performance metrics, a target could involve an increase, a decrease, or staying the same.
Variance: the difference between the target and result for each metric.
