Metric Thresholds

Thresholds allow users to define three performance levels for each metric, visually represented by color coding on the Scorecard. These thresholds help teams quickly assess progress and determine whether a metric is exceeding, meeting, or falling below expectations.

Each metric includes three threshold levels:

• Exceeds Expectations – the highest performance level, typically shown in blue. A metric value at or above this threshold is considered exceptional.
• Meets Expectations – the target or acceptable level, typically shown in green. A metric value above the Meets threshold but below the Exceeds threshold falls into this category.
• Minimum Expected – the lowest acceptable level before concern, typically shown in yellow. A metric value above or equal to this threshold but below the Meets threshold is considered marginal.

Any metric value below the Minimum threshold is considered underperforming and is typically shown in red.

Threshold Requirements

To ensure metrics display correctly across dashboards, charts, and reports:

• All three thresholds must be filled out. Incomplete thresholds may prevent the metric from appearing in certain visualizations or aggregated reports.
• Thresholds must follow a consistent direction. Either ascending or descending:
• Ascending: Higher values indicate better performance (e.g., revenue, customer satisfaction).
• Descending: Lower values indicate better performance (e.g., defect rate, response time).
• Mixed directions (e.g., thresholds that zigzag up and down) are considered invalid and will not be processed correctly.

Thresholds Over Time

Metrics in Connections Online are designed to evolve with your goals. Instead of creating a new metric for each reporting period, you can update the thresholds to reflect new targets while preserving historical context.

• Thresholds include an effective date, allowing you to define when a new set of expectations begins.
• When a metric value is evaluated, the system automatically adjusts for the difference between the previous and current thresholds to estimate its status.
• This means you can:
  • Track performance over time without losing historical relevance.
  • Set new goals for the same metric as priorities shift.
  • Avoid duplicating metrics for each quarter, year, or initiative.

For example, if your customer satisfaction goal increases from 85% to 90%, you can enter a new threshold set with a future effective date. Past data will still be evaluated against the older thresholds, while current and future data will reflect the updated expectations.

This approach ensures that your Scorecard remains consistent, flexible, and aligned with evolving strategic goals.

Why Use Thresholds?

Thresholds provide context. A raw number alone doesn’t tell you whether a metric is on track, but with thresholds it does. They:

• Help teams interpret performance at a glance
• Enable color-coded Scorecards for faster reviews
• Support strategic decision-making by highlighting areas that need attention or celebration
• Ensure consistency across reports, especially when comparing metrics across departments or time periods