The importance of metrics in strategic planning: What gets measured, gets done
By Kristen Schunk Moreland, President
In the fast-paced and increasingly complex world of organizational management, a strategic plan without well-defined metrics is like a ship without a compass—it may be moving forward but with no clear direction. The saying "what gets measured, gets done" holds particular significance when developing or refining metrics in a strategic planning context. Metrics play a crucial role in evaluating an organization’s effectiveness and ensuring that its efforts are aligned with long-term goals.
Developing or Refining Metrics
For metrics to drive organizational success, they must be measurable and directly aligned with strategic goals. Effective metrics provide a clear view of progress and offer objective insights into how well an organization is meeting its targets. Whether the aim is to increase community engagement, improve financial sustainability, or boost program efficiency, metrics ensure that progress can be quantified and tracked over time.
Key to the development or refinement of metrics is their measurability. Organizations should avoid vague or overly ambitious indicators that are difficult to track or quantify. Instead, they should focus on data that can be consistently gathered and interpreted. A good metric will answer a specific question, such as "how much?" or "how well?" and provide a reliable gauge of progress toward a defined goal.