“This is an excellent article on the power of meaningful measuring system. The article made clear distinctions that all managers should know: measure vs. metrics and outcome vs. performance metrics. For project management there are various tools. For example, earned value is superb achieving this clarity, but it is not always the easiest to use. Many people like the simple traffic light indicators as both descriptive and prescriptive. Experienced project managers also develop a dashboard or a balanced scorecard that conveys the right information to the right audience. What’s your favorite project metrics?”
– Te Wu’s Comment on Ruth Henderson’s Forbes article below titled, “What Gets Measured Gets Done. Or Does It?”
It’s an old cliché: “What gets measured gets done.” The origin of the statement is up for debate (click here if you want to geek out a bit on that – some say it goes back to Rheticus in the 1500′s!), and it seems that the original phrase was actually “If you can measure it, you can manage it.”
Regardless of the origin or the wording, the message is clear: measuring something gives you the information you need in order to make sure you actually achieve what you set out to do.
But what does that mean, exactly? How does measuring weight ensure weight loss? How does tracking monthly revenue actually bring in the money?
Two Ways Measurement Leads to Goal Achievement
How often have you heard (or said) “it’s not on my performance objectives, so it’s not a priority for me.” It may not be the attitude we are hoping for, but for many people, the simple act of measurement increases motivation to perform.
The term “eustress” refers to “good stress,” or the opposite of distress, and captures that healthy response to stress we have when something is attainable, but almost too far out of research. Research shows that the desire to win is heightened when rivalry and time pressure coincide, and the simple act of measuring something sparks that sense of rivalry in many people. Of course that rivalry doesn’t need to be with others, it can be with one’s own self as a sort of “competition” to see whether you can beat a goal. Without a measure, there is no way to determine whether you have won, and therefore, less motivation to get something done. SNIP, the article continues @ Forbes, click here to continue reading……