Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): Video e Problemi di Pratica

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are specific measurements used to evaluate how well a company is performing against its goals. In managerial accounting, KPIs are crucial because they help managers track progress in key areas such as financial results, customer satisfaction, internal processes, and employee growth. Unlike standardized metrics, KPIs are tailored to a company’s unique objectives, making them highly relevant for decision-making. For example, a retail store might track the number of dogs entering the store if becoming dog-friendly is a goal. KPIs connect performance measurement directly to strategy, enabling managers to focus on what matters most for their organization’s success.

In the balanced scorecard framework, KPIs are organized into four fixed categories: financial, customer, internal business processes, and learning and growth. Financial KPIs might include return on investment (ROI) or net income, focusing on profitability and financial health. Customer KPIs measure aspects like customer satisfaction or market share. Internal business process KPIs track operational efficiency, such as labor hours per order or repair time. Learning and growth KPIs assess employee development and innovation, like training hours or the percentage of processes collecting useful data. These categories remain constant, but the specific KPIs chosen vary based on the company’s goals.

Yes, KPIs vary widely depending on the business type and goals. For example, a restaurant like Pearson Pancakes might use ROI as a financial KPI, average dollars spent per customer as a customer KPI, order-to-table time as an internal process KPI, and the number of new recipes as a learning and growth KPI. In contrast, a technology company might focus on software development cycle time or customer retention rates. The key is that KPIs should reflect what the company aims to improve or achieve, making them unique to each business.

There is no single standard set of KPIs because each company has different goals, strategies, and priorities. KPIs are designed to measure progress toward specific objectives, which vary widely across industries and organizations. For instance, a retail store aiming to be dog-friendly might track the number of dogs entering the store, while a manufacturing firm might focus on production efficiency. The balanced scorecard categories remain the same, but the actual KPIs chosen must align with what the company wants to achieve, making them unique and customized.

KPIs help connect performance measurement to a company’s strategy by providing specific, measurable indicators that reflect the company’s goals. By selecting KPIs aligned with strategic objectives, managers can monitor progress and make informed decisions to improve performance. For example, if a company’s strategy focuses on customer satisfaction, KPIs like customer survey results or market share will highlight how well the company is doing in that area. This alignment ensures that efforts and resources are directed toward achieving strategic priorities rather than just tracking generic metrics.