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Part - VI

Taking a Look at the Big Picture

KPIs are also known as dashboards. A dashboard provides insights into business performance in one snapshot. Similar to the dashboard on a car, which provides the driver with an overview of key aspects of the car's operation, dashboards provide a high-level understanding of how a business is performing. They are considered "measures of wellness," in that by simply looking at them organizations can assess the health of the operation.

Beyond the numbers, organizations want to know what qualitative factors impact performance. Using statistical techniques such as correlation and cross tabulation can help reveal those factors that most prominently influence good performance. "Ultimately, clients want us to help them improve their businesses," said Gardner. "We find making the connection between the numbers and management practices that drive business performance is a way to achieve this. That is the payoff to benchmarking."

Concluded.

* Contributed by -
Emma Skogstad,
Courtesy: APQC (American Productivity & Quality Center)