What skill will make the biggest difference in your professional journey? Whether you want to improve organizational goal-setting, manage employee performance, strengthen strategy execution, or develop expertise in performance measurement, The KPI Institute has four live online certification courses scheduled for November 16–20, 2026.

Each program addresses a different aspect of organizational performance. Participants can choose the course that best corresponds to their professional responsibilities, current challenges, and development priorities.

Here is what each certification offers.

1. Certified OKR Practitioner: Turn organizational priorities into measurable results

Organizations need clear objectives and measurable results to maintain focus and accountability. The Certified OKR Practitioner course explores how professionals can design, implement, and manage an Objectives and Key Results (OKR) system within their organizations.

The program focuses on practical competencies, including organizing OKR-setting workshops, aligning objectives across organizational levels, developing measurement templates, and establishing a structured goal-setting process. Participants also examine how to communicate and coordinate an OKR rollout in a real organizational environment.

Course schedule:

• Dates: November 16–18, 2026
• EMEA: 08:00–12:00 KSA
• ASEAN: 13:00–17:00 GMT+8
• Language: English

Explore the course and register for the Certified OKR Practitioner program.

2. Certified Employee Performance Management Practitioner: Make employee performance more objective

How can organizations assess employee performance using consistent criteria? The Certified Employee Performance Management Practitioner course addresses this question through established practices and practical approaches to employee performance management.

Participants explore how to develop objective performance evaluation criteria and establish, implement, improve, and maintain an employee performance management system. The program is relevant to HR professionals, performance managers, and organizational leaders who oversee employee evaluations and performance improvement processes.

Course schedule:

• Dates: November 16–18, 2026
• EMEA: 08:00–12:00 KSA
• ASEAN: 13:00–17:00 GMT+8
• Language: English

Explore the course and register for the Employee Performance Management Practitioner program.

3. Certified Agile Strategy Execution Professional: Bridge the gap between strategy and execution

A well-developed strategy requires the right processes, resources, and organizational capabilities to translate plans into results. The Certified Agile Strategy Execution Professional course examines the methodologies and tools organizations can use to improve strategy implementation.

The program covers strategy management, strategic initiatives, performance measurement, performance monitoring, and organizational adaptation. Participants work with practical instruments such as strategy maps, performance scorecards, dashboards, and initiatives portfolios.

The course is particularly relevant to executives, strategy professionals, and managers responsible for translating strategic priorities into organizational action.

Course schedule:

• Dates: November 16–20, 2026
• EMEA: 17:00–21:00 KSA
• ASEAN: 09:00–13:00 CST (US)
• Language: English

Explore the course and register for the Agile Strategy Execution Professional program.

4. Certified KPI Professional: Build stronger performance measurement practices

Choosing the right KPIs is fundamental to understanding organizational performance. The Certified KPI Professional course introduces participants to a structured KPI Measurement Framework developed through The KPI Institute’s research and industry practices.

The program covers KPI selection, typology, taxonomy, alignment, documentation, target setting, data gathering, and data visualization. Participants develop the knowledge to select appropriate indicators, document them consistently, and establish processes for collecting and presenting performance data.

This certification is suitable for professionals across functions who work with performance indicators and organizational reporting.

Course schedule:

• Dates: November 16–20, 2026
• EMEA: 08:00–12:00 KSA
• ASEAN: 13:00–17:00 GMT+8
• Language: English

Explore the course and register for the Certified KPI Professional program.

Choose Your Next Professional Milestone

Four certifications. Four areas of expertise. One opportunity to invest in professional development this November.

Whether the priority is organizational objectives, employee performance, strategy execution, or KPI measurement, the right certification can provide a stronger foundation for the work ahead.

Which course aligns with your next professional milestone?

Explore the programs, choose your preferred certification, and secure your place in the upcoming live online sessions.

Visit The KPI Institute to discover more professional certification opportunities.

The KPI Institute’s smartKPIs database now contains 21,780 documented key performance indicators (KPIs), reflecting the ongoing research conducted by The KPI Institute team into performance measurement across organizational functions and industries.

The database provides professionals with a collection of documented KPIs that can serve as a reference when identifying, selecting, and reviewing performance measures. Its content covers 16 functional areas and 25 industries, offering examples relevant to different organizational responsibilities and operating environments.

A database covering multiple functions and industries

The smartKPIs database includes indicators from a broad range of functional areas, from finance and human resources to technology, operations, and strategy. Users can search for KPIs related to Accounting, Corporate Services, Corporate Social Responsibility, Finance, Governance, Compliance and Risk, Information Technology, Knowledge and Innovation, and Marketing and Communications.

Other areas include Occupational Health and Safety, Online Presence and eCommerce, Portfolio and Project Management, Production and Quality Management, Sales and Customer Service, Strategy and Performance Management, Supply Chain, Procurement and Distribution, and Sustainability.

The database also covers 25 industries, including Arts and Culture, Construction and Capital Works, Education and Training, Financial Institutions, Government, Healthcare, Hospitality and Tourism, Manufacturing, Media, Retail, Telecommunications, Transportation, and Utilities.

This classification allows users to narrow their searches according to their professional responsibilities or industry context. For example, a human resources professional can look for indicators related to workforce performance, while a manufacturing specialist can consult KPIs relevant to production and quality management.

By bringing together indicators from different areas, the database offers a reference for professionals who need to identify potential measures for their departments, review existing performance measurement practices, or develop organizational scorecards.

Documented KPIs for professional reference

The collection includes more than 7,000 premium documented KPIs. Beyond KPI names, the platform provides access to definitions and additional documentation according to the user’s subscription plan.

Documented indicators can help professionals understand what a KPI measures before considering its application within their organization. This is particularly relevant when teams are reviewing their existing measures, comparing alternatives, or developing a consistent approach to performance reporting.

However, selecting a KPI requires consideration of the organization’s objectives, operating context, and available data. Indicators found in the database can serve as reference points, while their suitability should be assessed against the specific requirements of each organization.

The database is maintained through the ongoing research activities of The KPI Institute, which develops resources for professionals working in performance measurement and management.

Subscription options for different needs

smartKPIs offers four subscription plans, allowing users to select an access level according to their informational requirements.

The Preview plan is free and provides access to 100 KPI names per year. The Starter plan costs $19 for six months and includes access to 10 documented KPIs. The Standard plan costs $99 per year and provides access to 300 KPI names and definitions. The Premium plan costs $249 per year and includes access to 500 documented KPIs.

These plans offer different levels of access to the database, depending on whether users need to browse KPI names, consult definitions, or access documented indicators for more detailed reference.

Professionals can review the available features and compare subscription options on the smartKPIs website.

With 21,780 documented KPIs across 16 functional areas and 25 industries, smartKPIs remains a research-based resource for professionals seeking performance measures relevant to their work.

To learn more, visit smartKPIs.com or view the available subscription plans.

Key performance indicators (KPIs) help organizations assess progress toward strategic objectives, monitor operational results, and identify areas that require attention. However, effective performance measurement involves more than choosing a few metrics and tracking their results. Professionals must also determine what to measure, establish appropriate targets, organize performance information, and review results in the context of organizational priorities.

A structured approach can help professionals move from selecting indicators to using performance data in decision-making. Understanding the key stages of this process is a useful starting point.

What Does a KPI Professional Need to Consider?

Developing a performance measurement system involves several connected activities. Each requires a different set of considerations and tools.

1. Selecting the Right KPIs

The first step is to determine which indicators best reflect the objectives being measured. A KPI should relate to a specific performance priority and provide information that supports assessment or decision-making.

Professionals can begin by examining strategic objectives, identifying the results that matter, and researching indicators relevant to their industry or functional area. They must then assess whether the selected KPIs are appropriate for their organizational context and whether the required data is available.

Using an indicator simply because it appears on a popular KPI list does not guarantee that it will be relevant to a particular organization.

2. Defining Measures and Targets

After selecting the indicators, professionals need to clarify how each KPI will be measured. This involves defining the metric, its calculation method, the data source, the reporting frequency, and the person or team responsible for monitoring it.

Target setting is another important step. A target establishes the expected level of performance within a defined period. It should be considered in relation to organizational objectives, historical results, available resources, and other relevant evidence.

Without clear definitions and appropriate targets, different teams may interpret the same KPI differently or struggle to assess whether performance meets expectations.

3. Organizing Performance Information

Once KPIs and targets have been established, professionals need a way to present and communicate the resulting information.

Scorecards and dashboards can organize indicators, targets, and actual results so that users can review performance more systematically. The format should reflect the needs of its intended audience. An operational team may require detailed measures for day-to-day monitoring, while senior management may need a more concise overview of strategic performance.

The choice of presentation also matters. Performance information should be understandable, consistent, and relevant to the decisions users need to make.

4. Monitoring and Reviewing Results

Performance measurement continues after a system has been designed. Professionals must review actual results against targets, investigate significant deviations, and determine whether corrective action is necessary.

A review should go beyond identifying whether a target was met. It should also consider the factors behind the result, the implications for organizational objectives, and the actions that may improve future performance.

Regular reviews can help organizations identify recurring issues, reconsider assumptions, and determine whether their existing indicators remain appropriate.

Why Reference Materials and Practical Tools Matter

Each stage of KPI management presents different challenges. Researching indicators requires access to relevant references. Designing a scorecard or dashboard requires a suitable structure. Monitoring performance requires clear definitions and consistent reporting practices.

Professionals do not necessarily need to develop every resource from scratch. Existing references and templates can provide starting points for their work, reduce the effort involved in preparing supporting documents, and help them explore different approaches.

However, these resources should be selected carefully. A template or KPI reference is most useful when it fits the organization’s objectives, industry, data requirements, and measurement practices. It should support professional judgment rather than replace it.

Exploring Resources for KPI Professionals

For professionals looking for reference materials and practical tools, The KPI Institute’s Marketplace brings together several resource categories related to KPI research and performance measurement.

KPI Dictionaries for Indicator Research

The KPI Dictionaries collection includes references organized by industry and functional area. Listed areas include healthcare, financial institutions, utilities, transportation, real estate, professional services, government, finance, human resources, information technology, marketing, supply chain, and sales and customer service.

These dictionaries can serve as starting points for researching indicators relevant to a particular business function or industry. Professionals can then assess which measures best correspond to their objectives and measurement requirements.

Templates for Scorecards, Dashboards, and Toolkits

The Templates collection includes resources for performance measurement and employee performance. Its categories include scorecards, dashboards, and toolkits, with examples for specific industries and functional areas.

Listed resources include recruitment agency scorecards and dashboards, restaurant performance resources, and templates for healthcare and library settings.

Professionals can explore these options when preparing performance reports or developing documents to organize and communicate KPI results. Any template should be adapted to the organization’s specific requirements.

smartKPIs Subscription Options

For ongoing KPI research, professionals can also explore the smartKPIs subscription options. The Marketplace lists Standard and Premium subscription options for accessing the smartKPIs resource.

Those who regularly research indicators across different projects or functional areas can review the available subscription details and assess which option suits their needs.

Building a More Structured Approach to KPI Management

Effective KPI management connects indicator selection, target setting, reporting, and performance review. Each stage contributes to a measurement process that helps professionals assess results and understand how they relate to organizational objectives.

The right resources can support this work, but their usefulness depends on how well they fit the organization’s context and how consistently they are applied.

Professionals seeking additional references for KPI research and performance measurement can explore The KPI Institute’s Marketplace, including its KPI Dictionaries, templates, and smartKPIs subscription options.

Explore the available resources at The KPI Institute Marketplace.

Sustainability reporting has moved from a voluntary communications exercise to a regulatory obligation. Under the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), thousands of companies now face detailed, audited disclosure requirements on environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance — with similar expectations building through the ISSB standards internationally.

For many organizations, the instinct has been to treat this as a reporting problem: build the disclosures, satisfy the auditors, move on. A growing body of research suggests that framing is too narrow — and that organizations already running a Balanced Scorecard (BSC) are better positioned to meet these requirements as a matter of strategy rather than compliance.

Compliance is the floor, not the framework

A 2025 study in Management Decision makes this case directly. Examining how companies can operationalize the CSRD, the researchers propose implementing its requirements through a sustainability balanced scorecard, arguing that the exercise should integrate sustainability with corporate governance rather than sit alongside it as a separate disclosure workstream. Their proposed framework moves through four steps — identifying material themes, assessing current capability, formulating strategy and then reporting — deliberately placing reporting last, as an output of strategic work rather than its starting point.

That sequencing matters. Organizations that build ESG metrics only to satisfy disclosure rules tend to end up with indicators that are audit-ready but strategically disconnected — numbers that describe activity without informing decisions.

A well-established extension of a familiar framework

The idea of adapting the BSC for sustainability is not new; the “sustainability balanced scorecard” (SBSC) has been studied for over two decades. A 2025 bibliometric review of 247 publications on the subject found that the SBSC consistently strengthens organizations’ capacity to align sustainability goals with core strategic objectives, while also flagging persistent implementation barriers — chiefly, the difficulty of choosing sustainability indicators that are both meaningful and comparable across business units.

Sector-specific applications reinforce the pattern. A 2024 study of fast-moving consumer goods companies proposed a method for operationalizing ESG-adapted corporate strategy through the BSC’s four perspectives, translating climate and sustainability targets into the same cause-and-effect logic FMCG firms already use to manage financial and customer outcomes. Separate research on Indonesian manufacturing firms found that integrating ESG considerations into BSC design produced positive, statistically significant improvements in sustainability performance across all four scorecard dimensions — evidence that the framework does not need to be reinvented to absorb ESG, only extended.

It is not only a private-sector question

The pressure to link sustainability reporting to genuine strategic management extends beyond corporations. A 2025 study of local government organizations examined how municipalities are implementing ESG indicators within their balanced scorecards, finding that institutions incorporating sustainability into their performance frameworks — rather than treating it as a separate policy initiative — reported stronger policy coherence and citizen engagement. Leadership commitment and stakeholder participation emerged as the critical success factors, echoing what the private-sector research also finds: the framework only delivers value when it is genuinely used to manage strategy, not simply populated with new metrics.

The strategic risk of getting this wrong

None of this suggests ESG integration is straightforward. The same body of research is candid about where organizations struggle: selecting indicators that are material rather than merely available, avoiding a proliferation of metrics that dilutes strategic focus, and ensuring that sustainability targets are cascaded through the organization with the same discipline applied to financial ones.

That is precisely the discipline a well-designed Balanced Scorecard system is meant to enforce. The organizations best placed to meet ESG reporting obligations without derailing focus are, generally, the ones that already have a structured way of connecting objectives, KPIs and initiatives across the business — and are extending that same structure to sustainability, rather than building a parallel system for it.

Building the capability

As reporting requirements tighten and stakeholders — investors, regulators, customers — expect sustainability performance to be managed with the same rigor as financial performance, the ability to design and cascade a scorecard that genuinely integrates ESG becomes a strategic capability, not an accounting task.

The Certified Balanced Scorecard Management System Professional program from The KPI Institute equips participants to design, implement and cascade a Balanced Scorecard system built to hold up under exactly this kind of pressure — where strategy, KPIs and reporting obligations all need to move as one.

The KPI Institute recorded 44,900 participants across its educational programs as of the latest mid-year attendance record. Behind that figure is a community of professionals who have taken part in courses covering strategy, performance management and related areas through different learning formats.

The programs have reached professionals across multiple regions worldwide, with the Middle East accounting for the largest share of participants, followed by APAC, Africa, Europe, South America, and North America.

What are participants learning?

The KPI Institute serves professionals with different learning preferences, with face-to-face courses attracting the highest participation, followed by live online and pre-recorded formats. This mix reflects a combination of classroom-based and digitally accessible learning.

Certification represents an important part of the institute’s professional development offering, covering areas related to performance management, KPI management, strategy and business planning, data, and organizational performance.

Its international reach is reflected in activity across 60 countries, with more than 3,000 courses delivered as of the latest available data. This geographic spread highlights the accessibility of the company’s learning and certification offerings to professionals across different markets and organizational contexts.

Participation has also shown steady growth over the reporting period, increasing month by month from January through July. The latest available figure reached 44,900 participants, reflecting continued expansion of the institute’s global learning community.

The course portfolio covers a broad range of disciplines in strategy, business planning, performance management, and KPI development. Participants can develop skills in Strategic Planning, Strategy Execution, Business Planning, the Balanced Scorecard, Performance Management, Performance Measurement, Performance Management Systems, and Performance Maturity.

The portfolio includes specialized learning in Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), KPI Measurement and Reporting, KPI Target Setting, KPI Selection, and KPI Management, as well as Objectives and Key Results (OKRs). Together, these courses help professionals translate strategy into measurable objectives, establish appropriate performance measures, design management systems, and use performance information to support organizational improvement.

Moreover, the portfolio extends into employee performance, data, analytics, and decision-making, addressing the practical capabilities needed to manage and interpret performance information. Courses cover Employee Performance Management, Data Analysis, Data Visualization, Benchmarking, and Performance Reporting, alongside topics that strengthen the use of evidence in organizational decision-making. Participants learn how to work with performance data, identify meaningful patterns and comparisons, communicate insights effectively, and apply structured approaches to monitoring and improving results. Across the portfolio, the focus is on giving professionals practical frameworks, methods, and tools that can be applied directly to organizational performance and professional practice.

What graduates say

Participants have highlighted the practical and engaging nature of the learning experience. Meshal Almotairi, Senior Dietitian at the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, described the course as “a great learning and revision tool,” noting that the quizzes helped reinforce understanding and that the knowledge gained was valuable enough to share with colleagues.

Ibrahim Neyaz, Director of Business Process Management & Strategic Information Department at the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, similarly emphasized the practical focus, saying the course helped him understand KPIs and how to implement them within his organization. He particularly valued the real-life exercises, which enabled him to analyze how KPIs could be developed for different departments and aligned with strategic objectives.

The organizational impact of the learning is also reflected in the experience of Ferenc Gabor, Managing Director of Process Solutions S.R.L. Following training in the Balanced Scorecard and KPI areas, Gabor said his organization was “very pleased with the quality of the course and training” and was applying the knowledge gained within the company. These experiences point to the practical application of the institute’s training beyond the classroom, from strengthening individual understanding of performance concepts to supporting organizations in applying structured approaches to strategy and performance management.

For professionals looking to build similar capabilities, the full range of courses is available here:

• Live Online Training Courses 2026: https://kpiinstitute.org/Live_Online_Training_Courses_2026_Calendar_a.pdf
• Face-to-Face Training Courses 2026 (EMEA): https://kpiinstitute.org/MENA_UK_Training_Courses_2026_Calendar.pdf
• Face-to-Face Training Courses 2026 (Southeast Asia): https://kpiinstitute.org/SEA_Training_Courses_2026_Calendar.pdf

Considering a strategy and performance management certification can raise practical questions about registration, time commitment, certification requirements, interaction, support, resources, and technical requirements.

The KPI Institute’s FAQ for its 2026 worldwide live-online certifications addresses these questions.

How do I register for the course?

Similar to the open face-to-face programs, the online programs have an application and admission process in place. Participants are required to fill in the application form and process the payment for the course in order to register. A confirmation email will be sent once the registration has been completed.

How much time should I expect to allocate to complete all course requirements?

The total expected time is 40 hours. This includes:

• Pre-course requirements: 4 hours
• Live online sessions: 20 hours, 4 hours per day, for 5 consecutive days
• Individual Learning Map and exam preparation: 3 hours, 0.5 hours per day after each live session, and 0.5 hours for the final recap before the exam
• Certification Exam: 1 hour
• After-course requirements: 12 hours

What will I receive upon completing the program?

The certification process is finalized only when all three stages of the learning experience have been completed. Participants will receive the following:

• Certificate of Completion: After completing the pre-course activities and passing the Certification Exam
• Certificate of Attendance: After participating in the online training course
• Certified Professional diploma: After successfully completing all three stages of the learning experience
• CPD Certificate of Attendance: Once Professional status has been successfully obtained

Will I be able to interact with the facilitator and other participants?

Yes. The learning experience is designed to encourage interaction. The facilitator will address participants’ questions and provide feedback during the sessions, as well as share best-practice information on the topics being discussed.

Participants will also be encouraged to share their own experiences and work and participate in group discussions during the online course and through the E-Learning platform before and after the course.

What support can I expect throughout the program?

Participants can expect support throughout the program. Content-related questions will be addressed by the facilitator, certification process queries by the Education Team, and technical questions by IT specialists.

Challenges during the course can be addressed through the E-Learning platform, email, phone, or during the live online sessions.

What resources will I get access to?

To help participants implement the knowledge they have gained in their organization and support further learning on the topic, the following resources will be made available:

• Premium Subscription on smartKPIs.com for 6 months, providing access to 500 fully documented KPIs and over 20,000 KPI examples
• One research report from the Top 25 KPIs series
• Free access to all webinars from the 2014 to 2016 Performance Management series
• Performance Management Toolkit containing Excel-based templates for Desired State of Evolution, Strategy Map, Scorecard, Dashboard, Portfolio of Initiatives, KPI Documentation Form, KPI Report Form, and Initiative Description Form
• The KPI Infographic
• The Performance Management in 2012, 2013, and 2014 reports
• Catalogues and Fact Sheets
• VideoDoodles
• Training slides and course notes

What technical requirements are needed to join the course?

Joining the platform is simple, and participants do not need advanced technical skills. They simply need to click on a link to open the app and join. After that, they select “use computer audio” and are ready to participate.

If I have attended face-to-face training before, can I get a 1:1 session with a consultant?

Yes. 1:1 sessions with subject matter experts can be organized on request, regardless of whether participants have attended a past public or in-house course.

*********

Check out the schedule of the strategy and performance management courses for the rest of 2026:

• Live Online Training Courses 2026: https://kpiinstitute.org/Live_Online_Training_Courses_2026_Calendar_a.pdf
• Face-to-Face Training Courses 2026 (EMEA): https://kpiinstitute.org/MENA_UK_Training_Courses_2026_Calendar.pdf
• Face-to-Face Training Courses 2026 (Southeast Asia): https://kpiinstitute.org/SEA_Training_Courses_2026_Calendar.pdf

Certification in strategy and performance management is intended to change how professionals approach measurement, planning, and execution in their organizations. To understand whether it does, The KPI Institute reviewed testimonials left by participants who completed a strategy and performance management certification course, from HR managers in Bahrain to strategy directors in Malaysia, and identified the recurring patterns, the standout accounts, and the courses mentioned most often.

What people keep saying, over and over

Read enough of these, and a few things start to repeat.

The word “practical” or “applicable” shows up more than 750 times across the testimonials. People aren’t just saying the course was informative, they’re saying they could take it back to their desk and use it the next day. “Structured” and “organized” together appear in over 650 testimonials, a strong signal that the course design itself, not just the content, is something participants notice and value.

Nearly 500 testimonials use the word “recommend,” often unprompted, often specifically naming colleagues they plan to send next. And a smaller but consistent group goes further than “useful,” describing the course in terms of confidence, career, or a shift in how they think about their work. Words like “life,” “career,” “journey” and “transform” show up hundreds of times combined.

These patterns are drawn from direct participant feedback rather than promotional material, reflecting the experiences of professionals who completed between three and five days of training and chose to describe that experience in their own words.

Where they’re writing in from

The testimonials span more than 100 countries across Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, North America, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Australia. Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia show up most often, but the range is genuinely global: the same course shows up in feedback from a HR manager in Bahrain, a strategy consultant in Kenya, and a general manager in the Dominican Republic.

10 that stood out

While many testimonials describe the course in similar terms of structure and practicality, the following ten offer more detailed or distinctive accounts.

1. The one who compared KPIs to your phone battery

Taha Shahzad, IT Quality Team Leader at ARASCO in Saudi Arabia, took the Certified KPI Practitioner and Professional course and offered this:

“Either if it’s your cellphone’s battery percentage or your rate of production at work, KPIs are everywhere.”

2. The skeptic who got converted

Dayang Poh Wan Ying, known as Felicia, an Executive Officer at Brunei’s Ministry of Defence, didn’t expect much going in:

“I did not come to the course with a positive mind, but this course has changed my perspective on KPIs and the possible simplicity of it.”

3. The one who now can’t stop measuring things

Ihab Najeeb Abuziyad, Kingdom Biomaintenance Manager at Salehiya Medical in Saudi Arabia, took it home with him:

“The KPI course has changed the way to measure the performance of many elements in my everyday life.”

4. The one who called the facilitator a genius

Mohammad Afzal Saheer, a participant in Saudi Arabia, did not hold back:

“The facilitator is a genius. He managed to inject the KPIs into us slowly but swiftly.”

5. The one who was hooked before the course even started

Mohammed A. Alaryan, a Specialist at the Capital Markets Authority in Kuwait, was won over by the pre-course homework:

“Very much loved the experience. The nice thing about it is that it got me engaged on the topic even before the actual course starting, with the pre-course assessments and assignments.”

6. The one who turned into an unofficial recruiter

Naglaa Kassem, a Clinical Quality Reviewer at the International Medical Center in Saudi Arabia, did our marketing for us without being asked:

“Best course I’ve taken, as well as the most applicable and useful for me in my career… I have already encouraged several colleagues to sign up for the next time it is presented.”

7. The facilitator who made a “dry” topic actually fun

Siti Norliyana Haji Mat Salleh, from Malaysia’s Ministry of Home Affairs, expected the topic to be dry. It wasn’t:

“His friendly and funny personality made this dry, supposedly, topic become interesting and fun to learn.”

8. The one who realized everything is measurable

Onuorah Nkem Michael, from Nigeria, had a lightbulb moment:

“The course exposed me to realize that everything we do is measurable, and that measuring what people do in the workplace is fundamental to making businesses successful.”

9. The one who found her “excellent product” thousands of miles from home

Karina Mabrich, General Manager at Talent y Management MH in the Dominican Republic, traveled to a session delivered in Lima, Peru:

“I attended this because of its reputation in the market, and once more time they deliver an excellent product.”

10. The one who kept it straight to the point

Jane Rowe, Assistant Director at ACT NoWaste, Transport Canberra and City Services in Australia, summed up her course in one line:

“Fantastic course. Very relevant, easily understood, would recommend to others happily.”

The courses behind the quotes

The testimonials cover 69 distinct course titles in total. The ones mentioned most often are:

• Certified KPI Professional (C-KPI)
• Certified Professional and Practitioner in Performance Indicators (C-KPIPP)
• Certified Strategy and Business Planning Professional (C-SBP)
• Certified Balanced Scorecard Professional (C-BSC)
• Certified OKR Professional (C-OKR)
• Certified Performance Management Professional (C-PM)

It’s never too late to see for yourself

Reading about it is one thing.

The next course could be a few weeks away.

• Live Online Training Courses 2026: https://kpiinstitute.org/Live_Online_Training_Courses_2026_Calendar_a.pdf
• Face-to-Face Training Courses 2026 (EMEA): https://kpiinstitute.org/MENA_UK_Training_Courses_2026_Calendar.pdf
• Face-to-Face Training Courses 2026 (Southeast Asia): https://kpiinstitute.org/SEA_Training_Courses_2026_Calendar.pdf

Finding time for professional development has become a familiar challenge across industries.

Teams need new skills to keep pace with changing business demands, yet many organizations also need employees to remain focused on day-to-day operations. Standard training programs can address broad topics, but they do not always reflect the realities of a specific industry, department, or business function.

Recent research points to a growing need for targeted workforce development.

The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, which remains one of the most widely referenced workforce studies in 2026, found that 59% of the global workforce will require training by 2030. The report also found that 63% of employers identify skills gaps as a major barrier to business transformation, while nearly 40% of current skill requirements are expected to change by 2030. The findings draw from responses submitted by more than 1,000 employers across 55 economies, representing over 14 million workers.

The need for workforce development also appears in learning and development research. LinkedIn Learning’s 2025 Workplace Learning Report, which continues to guide many learning strategies in 2026, found that 91% of learning and development professionals believe continuous learning has become more important than ever for career success, while organizations continue to look for learning programs that connect closely with business priorities.

These findings raise an important question:

How can organizations provide meaningful learning opportunities without disrupting business operations or asking employees to step away from work for several days?

One option comes through The KPI Institute’s customized live online group training programs, which combine live instruction with research-based content and practical application. Rather than following a standard curriculum, each program reflects the organization’s industry, functional area, and competency development requirements.

For over 20 years, The KPI Institute has advanced research and professional solutions in business performance worldwide, with expertise in strategy, key performance indicators (KPIs), employee performance, customer service, and innovation management.

When customized group training makes sense

A customized learning program may suit organizations that:

• Need examples and case studies that reflect their own industry.
• Want teams to build knowledge together instead of training employees individually.
• Need learning schedules that fit around operational commitments.
• Seek consistent knowledge across departments, business units, or regional offices.
• Want to address specific competency gaps through focused learning.

The delivery format also gives organizations greater flexibility. Sessions can take place over consecutive days within one week or across selected days over two or more weeks. Each session lasts up to four hours, which gives participants time to attend training while continuing with their regular responsibilities.

What participants can expect

The KPI Institute’s customized live online group training programs include:

• Flexible scheduling
  Organizations select a schedule that aligns with business requirements and team availability.
• Customized course content
  Course materials, case studies, and practical exercises reflect the group’s industry, business functions, and learning priorities.
• Business continuity
  Four-hour sessions allow participants to continue with daily responsibilities while attending live instruction.
• Virtual collaborative learning
  Interactive discussions, group activities, and digital collaboration tools encourage knowledge sharing throughout the program.
• Cost efficiency
  Organizations can save up to 40% compared with traditional face-to-face in-house training because travel, accommodation, venue, and other logistical costs do not apply.

Learning topics available for customization

Organizations can customize live online training across The KPI Institute’s professional learning portfolio:

• Certified KPI Professional and Practitioner
  Learn how to select, document, monitor, and report Key Performance Indicators that support organizational objectives.
• Certified OKR Professional
  Build practical knowledge on designing and implementing Objectives and Key Results across teams.
• Certified Strategy and Business Planning Professional
  Study frameworks and methods used to develop and execute strategic and business plans.
• Certified Performance Management Professional
  Explore approaches to organizational performance measurement, reporting, and decision-making.
• Certified Strategy and Performance Maturity Assessment Professional
  Assess the maturity of performance management systems through structured methodologies.
• Certified Employee Performance Management Professional
  Examine performance planning, employee evaluation, coaching, and development practices.
• Certified Data Analysis Professional
  Develop skills for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting business data.
• Certified Data Visualization Professional
  Present complex information through dashboards, charts, and visual reporting techniques.
• Certified Benchmarking Professional
  Learn structured benchmarking methods to compare practices and performance with industry peers.
• Certified Balanced Scorecard Management System Professional
  Understand the Balanced Scorecard framework and its application in strategy execution.
• Certified Agile Strategy Execution Professional
  Explore agile practices that support strategy implementation in changing business environments.

Organizations may also choose the learning format that best fits their objectives:

For more than 20 years, The KPI Institute has supported professionals and organizations through research, consulting, audit services, publications, and training in strategy and performance management. The customized live online group training programs add another learning option for organizations that want training built around their own priorities, people, and schedules.

Learn more

Organizations interested in arranging a customized live online group training program can contact the regional representative below.

Middle East

Teodora Gorski
Managing Director, MENA
E: teo.gorski@kpiinstitute.com
M: +971 55 787 6427

_____________________________

Asia Pacific

Sasikala Annamalai
Sales Director, Southeast Asia
E: sasikala.annamalai@kpiinstitute.com
M: +60 12 591 1366

_____________________________

Rest of the World

Alexandru Muntean
Head of Customer Engagement
E: alex.muntean@kpiinstitute.com
M: +40 747 060 997

__________________________________________________________________________________________

The KPI Institute is a global leader in business performance research and solutions, specializing in practice domains including strategy, key performance indicators (KPIs), employee performance, customer service, and innovation management. For over 20 years, The KPI Institute has established international standards and best practices for KPIs across both private and public sectors.

What We Offer:

• Certifications & Training: Practical programs delivered worldwide—live online, offsite, and customized—spanning 6 continents and 7 offices in Australia, Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
• Knowledge Platforms: Access to www.smartKPIs.com, the world’s largest documented database of KPIs, with over 21,600 examples published and 148,000+ members in our online communities.
• Publications: Over 460 publications, including books, research papers, and practical guides, providing insights to enhance organizational performance.
• Advisory & Implementation Support: Expert guidance to apply insights in practice for measurable impact.

Our Reach and Impact:

• 81,000+ companies registered on our platforms
• 2.5 million+ professionals reached through training and knowledge services
• 128 research client countries and 120 global partner organizations

Website: www.kpiinstitute.org

Email: office@kpiinstitute.org

LinkedIn: The KPI Institute

Organizations rarely struggle to come up with strategic initiatives.

Leadership teams spend weeks or even months on planning sessions. Objectives become clear. Roadmaps receive approval. Budgets follow. Teams know what they need to accomplish.

Then something changes.

New priorities emerge. Resources shift. Urgent operational work begins to compete with long-term goals. Before long, strategic initiatives lose momentum.

This challenge has led many organizations to adopt more agile approaches to strategy execution. The KPI Institute has long advocated this approach through its research and professional education. The principles behind agile strategy execution focus on regular prioritization, disciplined performance reviews, and continuous alignment between strategic objectives and day-to-day work. These principles also form the foundation of The KPI Institute’s Certified Agile Strategy Execution Professional course.

This pattern appears across industries. According to the Project Management Institute’s Pulse of the Profession research, organizations with mature project and execution practices report stronger business performance and lower levels of wasted investment than their peers.

Priorities need regular review

Organizations rarely pursue a single initiative at a time.

Most manage a portfolio of projects, transformation programs, operational improvements, and compliance requirements. Each initiative competes for attention, funding, and people.

Without a clear process for prioritization, teams can spread their efforts too thin. Critical initiatives move forward at a slower pace while lower-impact work continues simply because it started months earlier.

Successful organizations review priorities on a regular basis. They ask difficult questions. Does this initiative still support strategic objectives? Does it deserve the same level of investment today? Has another opportunity become more urgent?

These conversations help leaders focus resources where they matter most.

Four questions every strategy review should answer

A strategy review does not have to become a lengthy exercise. A few well-chosen questions can reveal whether strategic initiatives still deserve attention and resources.

Ask these questions:

• Does this initiative still support at least one strategic objective?
• Are the expected business benefits still realistic?
• Has another initiative become a higher priority?
• What obstacle is slowing progress, and who owns the next action?

These questions create a simple structure for executive discussions. They also reduce the risk of keeping initiatives alive simply because time or money has already gone into them.

Practical tools that support strategy execution

Clear discussions need clear documentation. Many organizations rely on simple tools that keep strategic initiatives organized and make review meetings more productive.

Some of the most common tools include:

• Initiative portfolios to compare priorities across the organization.
• Benefits realization registers to monitor expected business outcomes.
• Initiative description forms that define ownership, timelines, milestones, and success criteria.
• Performance reports and scorecards that track progress against strategic objectives.
• Process maps that clarify complex initiatives and identify bottlenecks.

These tools create consistency across the execution process. They also give leaders better information when priorities need to change.

Progress deserves more than status updates

Many organizations rely on project updates to monitor strategic initiatives.

Completion percentages and milestone reports have their place. They show whether activities move forward.

Business leaders also need answers to different questions.

What results has the initiative produced so far? Do the expected benefits still look realistic? Have new risks appeared? Does the initiative still support current business priorities?

A structured review process creates room for these discussions. It shifts attention from activity to business outcomes and gives decision-makers stronger evidence when plans require adjustment.

Strategy works best when teams stay connected

Even well-designed initiatives can lose momentum when departments work in isolation.

Marketing, operations, finance, and human resources often contribute to the same strategic objective. If each function follows separate priorities without regular coordination, progress slows. Small disconnects grow into larger obstacles over time.

Frequent communication and shared visibility help teams stay aligned. Leaders gain a clearer picture of progress across the organization. Employees also understand how their work contributes to broader business objectives.

Adaptability supports long-term execution

Business conditions rarely stay the same for long.

A strategy may remain relevant while the path toward it changes. Customer expectations shift. New technologies appear. Market conditions create fresh opportunities or new constraints.

Organizations that review initiatives on a regular basis can adjust timelines, redistribute resources, or revise priorities without losing sight of strategic objectives.

This approach reflects the principles of agile strategy execution. Teams continue to move toward long-term goals while they respond to changing business conditions with discipline and consistency.

Building stronger strategy execution skills

These practices require more than experience alone. Professionals also need practical methods for initiative prioritization, portfolio development, benefits realization, performance reporting, and agile organizational practices.

The KPI Institute’s Certified Agile Strategy Execution Professional course covers these topics through a structured learning experience. Participants explore strategy execution frameworks, initiative planning, portfolio development, benefits realization, performance reviews, and agile organizational practices. Practical exercises and assessments give participants the opportunity to apply these concepts to realistic business scenarios.

Strategic initiatives rarely lose momentum because organizations lack ambition. Priorities shift. Resources become stretched. Execution practices fall behind business needs.

Professionals who want a more structured approach to strategy execution can build these capabilities through dedicated learning. To learn more about The KPI Institute’s Certified Agile Strategy Execution Professional course and reserve a place in an upcoming cohort, visit the course page and complete the registration process.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

The KPI Institute is a global leader in business performance research and solutions, specializing in practice domains including strategy, key performance indicators (KPIs), employee performance, customer service, and innovation management. For over 20 years, The KPI Institute has established international standards and best practices for KPIs across both private and public sectors.

What We Offer:

• Certifications & Training: Practical programs delivered worldwide—live online, offsite, and customized—spanning 6 continents and 7 offices in Australia, Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
• Knowledge Platforms: Access to www.smartKPIs.com, the world’s largest documented database of KPIs, with over 21,600 examples published and 148,000+ members in our online communities.
• Publications: Over 460 publications, including books, research papers, and practical guides, providing insights to enhance organizational performance.
• Advisory & Implementation Support: Expert guidance to apply insights in practice for measurable impact.

Our Reach and Impact:

• 81,000+ companies registered on our platforms
• 2.5 million+ professionals reached through training and knowledge services
• 128 research client countries and 120 global partner organizations

Website: www.kpiinstitute.org

Email: office@kpiinstitute.org

LinkedIn: The KPI Institute

Organizations invest significant time and resources in collecting data. Dashboards track performance. Reports summarize results. Teams review metrics during meetings and use them to support decisions.

Yet many dashboards fail to achieve their purpose.

People glance at them and move on. Reports sit unopened in inboxes. Important insights get buried beneath layers of charts, colors, and numbers. The information exists, but the message does not always come through.

On the other hand, some dashboards immediately capture attention. Users know where to look, what matters, and why it matters. These dashboards support discussions, highlight opportunities, and help teams make decisions with greater confidence.

What separates one from the other?

Clarity beats complexity

A common misconception is that more information creates better reporting.

In practice, the opposite often happens.

When dashboards contain too many metrics, excessive filters, or multiple chart types competing for attention, users can struggle to identify the main takeaway. Important information gets lost in the noise.

Effective dashboards prioritize clarity. They focus attention on the metrics that matter most and present information in a way that is easy to interpret.

Before adding another chart or KPI, it helps to ask a simple question: what should the audience understand after viewing this dashboard?

If the answer is unclear, the dashboard may need refinement.

Good design influences decision-making

Design is often treated as a cosmetic consideration. In reality, it plays a significant role in how people interpret information.

Color, spacing, typography, and layout affect where readers focus their attention. Poor design choices can make reports difficult to read. Strong design choices can help users identify patterns and insights much faster.

Consider the use of color. Many dashboards rely on bright colors for every metric. When everything stands out, nothing stands out. Strategic use of color creates contrast and directs attention toward the most important information.

The same principle applies to layout. Information should follow a logical flow. Readers should not have to search for key findings.

Small design decisions can have a substantial impact on how effectively data is communicated.

The audience should influence the dashboard

One dashboard rarely works for every stakeholder.

Executives often prefer high-level summaries. Analysts may require detailed breakdowns. Operational teams usually focus on day-to-day performance indicators.

Problems arise when reports are created without considering who will use them.

A dashboard that overwhelms senior leaders with unnecessary detail may go unread. A dashboard that lacks sufficient depth may frustrate analysts who need additional context.

Strong data visualization starts with audience awareness. Understanding stakeholder needs helps determine which metrics to include, which charts to use, and how information should be organized.

Data storytelling provides context

Charts display information. Stories explain why that information matters.

Imagine a dashboard showing that customer satisfaction has dropped by five percent. The number itself is useful, but questions quickly follow. What caused the decline? Which customer groups were affected? Is this part of a longer trend?

Data storytelling helps answer these questions.

It connects metrics to business objectives, explains context, and highlights implications. This makes information easier to interpret and discuss.

Professionals who can combine visualization with storytelling often produce reports that spark conversations rather than simply display numbers.

Technical skills remain essential

Design principles and storytelling provide direction, but technical skills still play an important role.

Many organizations rely on tools such as Excel and Power BI to create dashboards, scorecards, and reports. These platforms offer extensive capabilities, but effective results depend on how those capabilities are applied.

Knowing how to build a dashboard is important. Knowing how to build one that supports understanding and action is even more important.

This is where structured learning can help bridge the gap between technical proficiency and effective communication.

Developing the skills behind effective dashboards

The skills discussed above are not limited to experienced analysts or designers. They can be learned, practiced, and refined over time.

These are precisely the areas covered in The KPI Institute’s Certified Data Visualization Professional course.

The program explores visual communication principles, graphical design, dashboard development, balanced scorecards, and data storytelling, while also providing practical experience in Excel and Power BI.

Designed for professionals who work with reports, dashboards, and business data, the 40-hour course combines theory with application through live online sessions, guided learning activities, assessments, and practical exercises. Participants gain a structured understanding of how to create visualizations that communicate information clearly and support business decisions.

The difference between a dashboard that gets ignored and one that drives action often comes down to communication. For professionals who want to strengthen that capability, The KPI Institute’s Certified Data Visualization Professional course offers a practical pathway to build the skills that modern organizations increasingly expect. To learn more and reserve a seat in an upcoming cohort, visit the course page and complete the registration process.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

The KPI Institute is a global leader in business performance research and solutions, specializing in practice domains including strategy, key performance indicators (KPIs), employee performance, customer service, and innovation management. For over 20 years, The KPI Institute has established international standards and best practices for KPIs across both private and public sectors.

What We Offer:

• Certifications & Training: Practical programs delivered worldwide—live online, offsite, and customized—spanning 6 continents and 7 offices in Australia, Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
• Knowledge Platforms: Access to www.smartKPIs.com, the world’s largest documented database of KPIs, with over 21,600 examples published and 148,000+ members in our online communities.
• Publications: Over 460 publications, including books, research papers, and practical guides, providing insights to enhance organizational performance.
• Advisory & Implementation Support: Expert guidance to apply insights in practice for measurable impact.

Our Reach and Impact:

• 81,000+ companies registered on our platforms
• 2.5 million+ professionals reached through training and knowledge services
• 128 research client countries and 120 global partner organizations

Website: www.kpiinstitute.org

Email: office@kpiinstitute.org

LinkedIn: The KPI Institute