Create and configure a KPI by using Dashboard Designer

  • Article

 

Applies to: SharePoint Server 2010 Enterprise

In PerformancePoint Services in Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010, a key performance indicator (KPI) is a scorecard element that shows at a glance whether performance is on- or off-target for a particular metric. KPIs can vary greatly in their appearance and complexity, but KPIs typically calculate how actual values compare to target values and indicate performance by using a graphical indicator.

By using PerformancePoint Dashboard Designer, you can easily create and configure basic KPIs for your dashboard. Then, you can extend those KPIs by configuring them to use additional functionality, such as calculated metrics, dimension filters, and trend indicators. For more information, see Extend a PerformancePoint KPI.

In this article:

  • Create a KPI

  • Configure a basic KPI

Create a KPI

By using PerformancePoint Dashboard Designer, you can create a KPI by either importing a KPI from a database, such as SQL Server Analysis Services, or by using the Create a KPI wizard in Dashboard Designer. Use the following table to determine which method to use.

Method Description

Import a KPI

When you import a KPI, you use the Create a Scorecard wizard in Dashboard Designer. The wizard enables you to copy one or more KPIs from the database server into Dashboard Designer and then configure those KPIs.

Select this method when you are creating a scorecard by using the wizard or when you want to import existing KPIs from a data source.

Note

There are many ways to create and configure a scorecard by using Dashboard Designer. The procedure that is described in this article focuses on the tasks that are specific to importing a KPI. For more information about how to create a scorecard, see Create a scorecard by using Dashboard Designer.

Create a KPI

When you create a KPI, you use the Create a KPI wizard in Dashboard Designer.

Select this method when you want to create a KPI separate from creating a scorecard or when you want to create and configure a new KPI that you define.

To import a KPI by using the Create a Scorecard wizard

  1. In Dashboard Designer, in the Workspace Browser, click PerformancePoint Content.

  2. On the ribbon, click the Create tab.

  3. On the ribbon, in the Dashboard Items group, click Scorecard.

    The Select a Scorecard Template dialog box opens.

  4. In the Category pane, click All. Then, in the Template pane, click one of the following templates:

    • Analysis Services

    • Excel Services

    • Excel Workbook

    • SharePoint List

    • SQL Server Table

    The template that you select corresponds to the kind of data source that you plan to use for the scorecard. For example, if you want to import a KPI that is stored in an Analysis Services database, select the Analysis Services template.

    Note

    Do not select Blank Scorecard or Fixed Values Scorecard. Those templates contain no KPIs.

    After you have selected the template that you want to use, click OK.

  5. In the Select a data source page, review the list of data sources on the SharePoint Site and Workspace tabs. Select the data source that you want to use, and then click Next.

    Note

    If the data source that contains the KPI(s) that you want to use is not listed, then you might have to create a data connection. See Create data connections (PerformancePoint Services).

  6. If you selected the Analysis Services scorecard template, the Select a KPI Source page opens. (Otherwise, proceed to step 7.)

    Select the Create KPIs from SQL Server Analysis Services measures option, and then click Next.

  7. In the Select KPIs to Import page, select the KPI (or KPIs) that you want to use by following these steps:

    1. Click Add KPI.

      A KPI from the data source that you selected for the scorecard appears.

    2. Continue clicking Add KPI until you see the KPI (or KPIs) that you want to use.

    3. To remove any KPIs from the list, select a KPI and then click Delete Selected KPIs.

      Tip

      To select multiple KPIs, press and hold the CTRL key while you click each KPI in the list.

    4. Click Next.

  8. On the Add Measure Filters page, click Next.

  9. On the Add Member Columns page, click Next.

  10. On the Locations page, confirm that the correct location is specified in the Create KPIs in list, and then click Finish.

The KPI (or KPIs) that you have imported can now be configured.

To create a KPI by using the Create a KPI wizard

  1. In Dashboard Designer, in the Workspace Browser, click PerformancePoint Content.

  2. On the ribbon, click the Create tab.

  3. On the ribbon, in the Dashboard Items group, click KPI.

    The Select a KPI Template dialog box opens.

  4. In the Template pane, select either the Blank KPI or Objective template, and then click OK.

    • Select Blank KPI to create a single KPI.

    • Select Objective to create a KPI that serves as a heading for a group of other KPIs.

    Tip

    The main difference between the two KPI templates is in their default calculation method. By default, an Objective KPI uses no calculation, and a Blank KPI uses a normalized weighted score calculation. However, you can specify the calculation method that is used by the KPI, regardless of which template that you selected.

The KPI that you have created opens for editing in the workspace where you can configure it.

Configure a basic KPI

After you have created or imported a KPI, your next step is to configure it to measure performance. Begin with a KPI for that is open for editing, and then use the Editor tab to configure it.

To open a KPI for editing

  1. In Dashboard Designer, locate the Workspace Browser on the left side of the window, and then click PerformancePoint Content. The center pane displays two tabs: SharePoint and Workspace.

  2. Locate a KPI that you want to configure.

  3. Double-click the KPI that you want to configure to open it for editing.

To configure a basic KPI

  1. In the center pane, on the Editor tab, notice two sections: the Actual and Targets section, and the Thresholds section.

    • The Actual and Targets section is where you configure the names of the metrics, numeric formatting, kind of indicator, data source, and calculation settings that are used by the KPI.

    • The Thresholds section is where you configure the indicator and scoring settings that will be used by the KPI.

      The Thresholds section is enabled when you click a column in a Target value.

  2. Configure the Actual value for a basic KPI by specifying the name, number formatting, data mapping, and calculation settings for that value.

    To configure the Actual value for a basic KPI

    1. To edit the name of the Actual value, in the Name column, click the current name of that value to highlight its text, and then type a new name.

    2. To specify how numeric values are displayed in a scorecard, take the following steps:

      1. In the Number Format column, click the hypertext to open the Format Numbers dialog box.

      2. Specify the format and other settings that you want to use for the value in the KPI.

      3. Click OK to close the Format Numbers dialog box.

    3. To specify the data source that you want to use for an Actual value, take the following steps:

      1. In the Data Mappings column, click the hypertext. A Data Source Mapping dialog box opens.

        Depending on how the KPI was created, the Data Source Mapping dialog box will be one of the following:

        • Fixed Values Data Source Mapping dialog box

        • Dimensional Data Source Mapping dialog box

      2. Click Change Source to open the Select a Data Source dialog box.

      3. Select the data source that you want to use, and then click OK.

    4. To specify calculation settings for the Actual value, take the following steps:

      1. In the Calculation column, click the hypertext to open the Calculation dialog box.

      2. Select the kind of calculation that you want to use, and then click OK.

  3. Configure the Target value for a basic KPI by specifying the name, number formatting, data mapping, indicator, and calculation settings for that value.

    To configure the Target value for a basic KPI

    1. To edit the name of the Target value, in the Name column, click the current name of that value to highlight its text, and then type a new name.

    2. To specify which value to compare to the Target value, use the Compare to list to select an Actual value.

    3. To specify how numeric values are displayed in a scorecard, take the following steps:

      1. In the row that contains the Target value, in the Number Format column, click the hypertext to open the Format Numbers dialog box.

      2. Specify the format and other settings that you want to use for the value in the KPI.

      3. Click OK to close the Format Numbers dialog box.

    4. To configure the indicator and scoring settings that are used by each Target value, take the following steps:

      1. In the Target row, click the cell in the Indicators column.

        The Thresholds pane is enabled.

      2. In the Thresholds pane, verify that the correct settings are used for the various threshold values.

      3. To make any changes to the indicator and scoring settings, click Set Scoring Pattern and Indicator to open the Edit Banding Settings wizard.

      4. Use the wizard to specify the scoring pattern, indicator, and worst value for the KPI.

    5. To specify the data source that you want to use for a Target value, take the following steps:

      1. In the Data Mappings column, click the hypertext. A Data Source Mapping dialog box opens.

        Depending on how the KPI was created, the Data Source Mapping dialog box will be one of the following:

        • Fixed Values Data Source Mapping dialog box

        • Dimensional Data Source Mapping dialog box

      2. Click Change Source to open the Select a Data Source dialog box.

      3. Select the data source that you want to use, and then click OK.

    6. To specify calculation settings for the Target value, take the following steps:

      1. In the Calculation column, click the hypertext to open the Calculation dialog box.

      2. Select the kind of calculation that you want to use, and then click OK.

  4. Give the KPI a name, and save it.

    To name and save the KPI

    1. In the center pane, click the Properties tab.

    2. In the Name box, type the name that you want to use for the KPI.

    3. (This step is optional.) To specify a location for the KPI, click the Display Folder button, and then select or create a folder.

    4. In the Workspace Browser, right-click the KPI, and then click Save.

The KPI is now available for you and other dashboard authors to use in PerformancePoint scorecards. You can also extend it by additionally configuring the KPI. For more information, see Extend a PerformancePoint KPI.

See Also

Concepts

Extend a PerformancePoint KPI
Create a scorecard by using Dashboard Designer