Performance gaps often start not from a lack of effort, but from a lack of clarity. When teams don’t know what to aim for or how success is measured, resources are wasted, and strategic goals drift out of reach. One way to bridge the gap between strategy and execution could be to use key performance indicators (KPIs) that help translate abstract goals into measurable actions.

However, according to The KPI Institute’s State of Strategy Management Practice – 2023 Global Report, many organizations still face foundational challenges with KPIs: 25% struggle to align KPIs and targets across departments, while 24% find it difficult to select the right KPIs—an issue that has grown by 4% over the past year. Despite these hurdles, KPI usage remains strong across both people and business performance. In fact, the same report reveals that organizations primarily use KPIs in two key areas: employee performance evaluations and corporate performance monitoring, with 60% of respondents emphasizing both. 

With KPIs influencing both day-to-day decisions and long-term priorities, their impact is far-reaching. However, when not aligned with strategic goals, they can create a gap between what the organization aims to achieve and what it delivers. That is why it is critical that they reflect strategic priorities, not just routine activities.  

To put this all into practice, we’re highlighting two KPIs in Q1 2025 that directly link operational efficiency with broader strategic goals: 

KPI of February: % Return on assets (ROA) – This metric evaluates a company’s ability to generate profit from its total assets, shown as a percentage of net income to assets. It aims to analyze how well a business utilizes its assets to drive profitability.  Aligning asset utilization with strategic growth goals helps companies achieve greater financial efficiency and improve competitive positioning in their industry.

When evaluating % ROA, it’s important for companies to benchmark against peers in the same industry, as asset structures vary. For instance, manufacturing firms tend to be asset-intensive and rely heavily on physical resources to drive income. Unlike businesses in the technology or service sectors, these companies typically depend on intangible assets like software, data, or expertise.

To learn more about how to utilize this metric, get a free copy of the poster from TKI Marketplace.

KPI of March: % Production schedule attainment – This indicator measures how much of the actual production output was completed as scheduled within the reporting timeframe. This metric helps verify whether the production process stays on track with the planned schedule.

Organizations can improve their % Production schedule attainment by adopting scheduling techniques that align with their business model and operational requirements. When production is on schedule, organizations can reduce costs, improve resource utilization, and enhance customer satisfaction, all of which directly contribute to long-term competitiveness and profitability. To explore how various scheduling methods impact this KPI and gain deeper insights into the indicator, download a free copy of the poster from the TKI Marketplace.

These digital posters are part of the KPI of the Month series by The KPI Institute. It is a free infographic series designed to provide practical insights into the application of key performance indicators. Each edition focuses on one specific KPI, offering clear explanations of terminology, addressing common challenges in its use, and outlining essential details such as its definition, calculation, Balanced Scorecard relevance, data profile, typical targets, and actionable recommendations.

When a government program works well, we barely notice. Mainly, it’s smooth roads, quick turnaround services, and policies that make sense. But when things go wrong, everyone feels it. So, what separates effective governance from the rest? Is it a smart policy? Strong leadership? The right data?

This month, we’re exploring what it really takes to measure and improve government performance. From key evaluation frameworks to real-world success stories, The KPI Institute’s (TKI) resources break down how public sector leaders can track progress, make informed decisions, and create lasting impact. 

The resources below are anchored on timeless principles and have been chosen for their adaptability to current societal demands. Whether you’re in government, policy research, or just passionate about how things run, there’s plenty here to spark new insights.

Performance Magazine Issue No. 30, 2024 – Government Edition: This edition showcases best practices in strategy planning and performance management within the government sector worldwide. It presents insights on how to achieve accountable allocation of resources while upholding transparency, efficiency, and public trust in all initiatives.

Articles: Explore practical tips for improving government performance in a collection of articles on the Performance Magazine website, written by experts and analysts.

• Is Transparent Governance Truly the Key to Better Public Sector Performance?
• Indonesia’s Bureaucratic Reform Initiatives: How to Be an Agile Government
• This is How Norway is Inspiring Trust in Government
• KPI of the Day – % Government Basic Services Available Online

Government Services Index 2024: This resource stands as a compilation of indicators developed to assess the performance of government service delivery, aiming to enhance both efficiency and overall service quality for citizens. This index encompasses five key dimensions, thoughtfully selected for their key roles as primary contributors to the public services: Future Readiness, Digitalization, Governance, Society Welfare, and Citizen Experience. Rooted in data derived from 30 specific indicators aligned with these dimensions, covering more than 122 countries, 5 world regions, and highlighting the top performers in each region and on each dimension.

The State / Federal Government KPI Dictionary: This dictionary helps professionals understand key performance indicators (KPIs) in the public sector, how they are defined, how to standardize KPI names for consistency, and how to document them for accurate data collection. Explore this collection to find the most relevant KPIs used in government to implement a strong performance measurement and management system.

Top 25 State Government KPIs – 2016 Extended Edition: Designed to improve KPI monitoring and reporting, this edition is a key resource for state government professionals. It also offers a fresh approach to creating the KPI documentation form.

National Development Indices Catalogue: Explore 57 KPIs tracked at the country level. See how your country is performing in areas like politics, economy, governance, social progress, technology, and the environment.

State of Strategy Management Practice Report 2024 – MENA Region: Discover strategic management and performance measurement trends in the MENA region within today’s changing business environment. The report also offers valuable insights, expert advice, and practical recommendations that governments can apply, focusing on best practices in planning, KPI use, project management, and organizational agility.

Harness these tools to help your organization excel and adapt. The future is yours to lead!

 The KPI Institute (TKI) has introduced a full series of key performance indicator (KPI) posters aimed at improving strategy and performance management in organizations. This initiative underlines TKI’s continuing mission in promoting business excellence by offering leaders practical resources for sharpening their managerial and operational focus.

The KPI posters for strategy and performance management are part of the broader KPIs for Functional Areas series. This series explores KPIs tailored to different organizational functions, aligning them with strategic objectives using the balanced scorecard framework. Each set of posters offers detailed insights into KPI definitions, component metrics, and calculation methods, drawing on TKI’s extensive consultancy experience.

The KPI posters for strategy and performance management focus on four key areas:

1. KPIs for Corporate Performance Management: These metrics provide a detailed analysis of the health and performance of an organization. They monitor performance in relation to strategic plans and guarantee compliance with strategic directions. Examples are % KPIs below target and # Time to compile the performance report.
2. KPIs for Strategic Planning: These measurements are useful for leaders to create and implement efficient strategic management plans. Examples are # Stakeholder Engagement Index, % KPIs updated in the system, and # Strategic workshops conducted.
3. KPIs for Initiatives Management: Through monitoring the level of accomplishment and results, these KPIs assist in confirming that certain organizational undertakings are on track and delivering expected outcomes. Examples are # Resource capacity per project, % Portfolio budget spending, and # Benefit cost-ratio of strategic initiatives.
4. KPIs for Performance Analytics: Metrics in this category are used to help in the decision-making process by giving a trend analysis of performance. They support the executives in the evaluation of data and defining areas of potential enhancement. Examples are % Decisions based on data insights and # Data security incidents.

Discover how these KPI posters can benefit your organization. Download them for free here: KPIs for Strategy and Performance Management.

The KPI Institute published its first English-Arabic Data Visualization Glossary, which aims to bridge the linguistic divide in technical terminology within data visualization. This initiative emerged from the challenges encountered while translating the Certified Data Visualization (C-DV) program’s educational materials, revealing a critical need for standardized Arabic terminologies.

Translating specialized terminology is a complex undertaking and often met with hesitation. Many experts fear that direct translation may lead to awkward or inaccurate terms, as technical jargon typically evolves through convention rather than linguistic adaptation. Additionally, translation requires a deep understanding of cultural context rather than just word substitution. Without such efforts, knowledge remains constrained to a single language that limits accessibility and growth.

To overcome these obstacles, The KPI Institute adopted a unique approach. Rather than directly translating English terms into Arabic, they first defined each concept, then carefully crafted an Arabic equivalent that accurately conveyed its meaning. This method ensured that the Arabic terms stand independently rather than merely mirroring their English counterparts. Notably, some Arabic translations proved more precise than the original English terms. The glossary also addresses inconsistencies in English terminology by distinguishing overlapping terms such as chart, graph, plot, and diagram. 

A Guide to Using the Glossary

The glossary is structured into three main sections for ease of use:

1. Contextual Index – Terms are grouped by thematic categories, ranging from general data visualization concepts to specific chart types, allowing users to browse related terms efficiently.
2. Terms and Definitions – Serving as the core of the glossary, this section provides detailed explanations, contextual usage, and visual examples where necessary. It functions as a reference guide, alphabetized in English.
3. Arabic-English Index – Designed for Arabic speakers, this section lists Arabic terms alongside their English counterparts, making it easy to cross-reference terminology.

With this comprehensive resource, The KPI Institute hopes to empower Arabic-speaking professionals, researchers, and data practitioners by standardizing terminology in the field. The institute encourages users to explore the glossary and contribute feedback for future refinements to ensure continuous improvement in Arabic data visualization discourse.

Bridge the language gap and enhance your data literacy with The KPI Institute’s comprehensive English-Arabic Data Visualization Glossary. Download it today!