PMcrunch

There is lots of good talk about project metrics.  Much of it centers on project performance.  But there is another side to it, organizational metrics, related to how the project is contributing to overall organizational goals.  Thinking a little differently and exploring a different perspective can provide better focus and produce more positive impact.

Here are 7 ideas for organizational metrics that can be incorporated into project communications plans and feed the organizational knowledge base:

1. Speed of completing a process - Often a project has at its core purpose to improve a process.  In other instances, there is a "type" of project which can be executed better.  Metrics can be captured on these things to inform decision makers.
2. Number of projects of certain types - This can reveal trends, good and bad, and provide some perspective as to some areas for focused effort.
3. Cost of completing certain projects - This can heighten awareness of  just how much money is being spent on types of initiatives and provide us with a the ammunition to gather support to make adjustments.
4. Questions answered that unfold deeper organizational insights - This can heighten sensitivity to what is known and unknown in the organization - an organizational asset.  Much value about factors inside and outside the organization can be extracted from projects.
5. Processes touched - Capturing what processes are touched by a project can help provide some guidance in scoping and focusing projects.  The object is to improve processes deliberately and efficiently.
6. Impact on operations - A conscious operational perspective is helpful in making sure the project(s) are getting the kind of results really desired.
7. Revelations on quality within the organization - Undertaking projects often pits the project team against underlying issues within the organization.  By capturing the revelations of what was encountered can provide the seeds for future organizational quality improvement projects which address systematize issues.

This "organization metrics" is a little bit different than standard approaches to metrics that I have seen.  Perhaps it can expand our vision a bit for organizational improvement.
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John Reiling, PMP
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