The second approach, Developing Performance Indicators . . . A Systematic Approach , was used at Sandia National Laboratories. It is less detail-oriented than the first, and uses a fictitious company, the Hackenstack Firewood Company, for anecdotal purposes. The third approach, Developing Performance Metrics-the University of California Approach , was developed by the University of California. This method is broadest in scope.
Different organizations have different needs.
Providing multiple approaches allows an organization to pick and choose which approach, or combination of approaches, is right for it. For instance, what the first approach refers to as a performance measure may be referred to as a performance indicator in the second approach, or a performance metric in the third. Fortunately, this causes problems only when comparing one approach to another, so be careful when you reach this stage. A sound approach to performance measurement is a necessary ingredient for ensured success, but it alone is not sufficient. You will also need to know what to do with performance measurement data once they have been collected.