Metrics, Dashboards, and Reporting

There are many variations in reporting requirements and methods, depending upon the size and nature of the program. It can also depend upon what upper management wants to see in program reports.

Let's take a look at something increasingly common in business: dashboards. A dashboard is a means of tracking key indicators like adherence to schedule or budget. Depending on the audience, it starts with a high-level executive summary. Preferably the dashboard is a visual. In demonstrating trends, arrows are typically used to show improvement or decline.

Figure 3-2 shows an actual company dashboard. Resources, timelines, and infrastructure are given a green (good) status. Scope is flagged yellow, which signifies an alert. To view details, you would click on the Scope hyperlink to take you to the project that is challenged in managing scope.