Key performance indicator
Key performance indicator is a quantified measure selected to track progress toward a specific strategic or operational objective.
Also known asKPI
See it move
A dial gauge displays Revenue per rep at 88% of target, with the caption confirming the underlying figures: €37,000 actual against a €42,000 target. The needle's position relative to the full arc communicates the shortfall immediately, without requiring the reader to perform any arithmetic. A single-metric dial is the appropriate figure type when the purpose is to signal the distance to a specific target rather than to compare multiple variables.
Check yourself
A regional sales manager proposes tracking 'number of client visits per week' as a KPI for her team. Her director argues this is a poor choice. Which objection best explains why?