KPI Dictionary — Template¶
Version: 1.1.0 | Licence: CC BY 4.0
Purpose: Define consistent performance measures and make their calculation, ownership, limits and decision use explicit.
When to use: When establishing an initiative or portfolio measurement approach and whenever a KPI definition, source, baseline or target changes.
How to use: Specify the formula, unit, boundary, baseline, target, source, frequency, accountable owner and interpretation risks. Distinguish actuals from forecasts and outputs from outcomes.
| KPI | Definition / calculation | Unit | Frequency | Accountable owner | Decision use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outcome attainment | Actual outcome compared with approved target | % / defined scale | Monthly / quarterly | Outcome owner | Continue, change or stop |
| Milestone predictability | Milestones achieved on/before forecast ÷ milestones due | % | Monthly | Initiative lead | Recovery and confidence |
| Forecast variance | (Current estimate − approved baseline) ÷ baseline | % | Monthly | Finance / initiative lead | Escalate cost pressure |
| Critical dependency health | Critical dependencies with owner and response ÷ total critical dependencies | % | Monthly | Initiative lead | Resolve constraints |
| Adoption | Eligible users or transactions using capability as intended ÷ eligible population | % | Monthly | Service owner | Adoption action |
| Benefit realisation | Verified benefit compared with time-phased plan | % / value | Quarterly | Benefit owner | Validate value |
| Risk-action timeliness | Risk actions completed by due date ÷ actions due | % | Monthly | Risk owner | Escalate exposure |
| Decision lead time | Median working days from complete request to decision | Days | Monthly | Governance owner | Remove bottlenecks |
KPI specification¶
- Name and purpose / decision supported:
- Definition and formula:
- Unit; baseline and date; target and date:
- Scope, exclusions and measurement boundary:
- Data source and quality limitations:
- Frequency and accountable owner:
- Thresholds and escalation:
- Interpretation risks (attribution, gaming, lag):
Report absolute values as well as ratios where scale can change. Distinguish actuals from forecasts, outputs from outcomes, and leading from lagging indicators.
For open-source, digital-sustainability and AI/RAG measures, see the KPI reference.