Measuring outcomes
With the indicators section in IMS Integrated Management System Software the strategy of the organization is implemented by setting up the objectives and indicators for it. It is an important part of management, because available indicators are prerequisites for drawing up conclusions and making decisions. Without a clear picture of the state of the organization, governing and implementing changes are not based on facts. Measuring is a way to find out where the organization is and where the organization is going. The most important indicators must be based on the objectives, have an action plan and be supervised by management. When indicators and the data to draw the indicators out of are available in the one management system, decision making is greatly enhanced. Efficient indicators do not only have the steering effects, but give input for analyzing the operations and insights to learn about.
Organization-specific indicators
A structure for indicators and vistas to show them can be created in many ways including following ways: indicators based on the structure of the organization, the processes or the meeting practices. IMS Integrated Management System Software produces visible information about the processes when processes and indicators are linked together and visualized in IMS Integrated Management System Software. The process indicators become visible icons on the summary, flowchart and phase details pages in the process section.
Balanced Scorecard (BSC)
IMS Integrated Management System Software can be used to design, implement and communicate the balanced scorecard (BSC) of the organization. The whole scorecard for the organization is possible to create and the results can be reviewed in the indicators section. Different perspectives can be obtained by designing indicators for the organization as whole as well as for the different units according to the principals of the Balanced Scorecard –model. Perspectives can be divided for example in the financial, customer, processes perspectives without forgetting the learning and growth aspect.
The three level structure of indicators
The structure of the indicators is always at least on three levels. On the lowest level reside the data sources from which indicators are generated through calculations. Indicators are further on categorized in groups. The structure of the indicators can consist of multiple levels following the structure of the organization or the processes. An indicator can consists of many indicators itself, which further on consist of other indicators stemming from the data sources. Therefore the structure of the indicators can be as simple or advanced as the organization likes.
Data sources of indicators
The data source is the lowest level on which measured data is saved. Data used for the indicators is imported automatically from different systems or is filled in manually. The data sources can be folded following the structure of the indicators.
Filling in manually
User can fill in data manually in IMS Integrated Management System Software.
Internal data sources
Data gathered from the dropdown lists used in the report section can be used for the indicators with a tool which compiles of statistics out of the reports.
External data sources
IMS Integrated Management System Software has an interface to be used to import data from other information systems. It is therefore possible to program a connection to import data from other information systems or to import files with the tools designed to manage the external data sources. Updating information from external data sources is possible to automatize to take place in predefined intervals.
Accumulation of data
Data source to draw up an indicator can be other another indicator either hierarchically or cumulatively. From indicators other indicators can be drawn up, which is a useful tool when cumulative or summative indicators are designed. For example, a cumulative indicator can be a cost indicator summing up the levels incrementally from the unit and sector levels to the level of the organization.
Designing indicators
Usually the X-axis of an indicator presents time, whereas the Y-axis presents measured value. Hence a trend can be observed from an indicator: how the value is being developed as a function of time. On the X-axis time is presented according to the selected interval. It can be a day, a week, a month, a quarter, a half an year or a year.
An indicator is build up in the folder where it is located. The name and the measuring interval are given and the formula to calculate the value is given. Components of the function can consist of the other indicators or the other data sources. The components are selected by clicking the folder structure. It is possible to change the order of the components in the function by clicking and dragging. Mathematical operations (+ - * /) can be used as well. Semicolon in the function creates comparative and compounding indicator. Target values can be set for the indicator.
