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Metrics are essential factors in the measurement and evaluation of the performance levels of a company, association, corporation, school, or any other institution. These are the bases for which the necessary measures, adjustments, policies, or added regulations will be implemented for the purpose of enhancing performance and for the enhancement of productivity in general. For the past years, these metrics have been developed or formulated manually, with the occasional assistance of different metrics instruments. In the later years, there have emerged programs that can do the job in the same manner with the same, if not better, degree of efficiency. Here comes a question as to whether or not the use of metrics development programs will prove to be an advantage or a disadvantage.
The development of metrics is usually a long and tedious process, taking considerable time for the conduct of research, study, and observation. For this reason, a substantial budget allocation is set aside for a company’s research and development and human resources department for them to effectively perform their assigned functions and duties. The metrics that have been obtained through this conventional process are only reliable if the procedures relied upon are also reliable. Thus, there is a high level of accountability that cannot be discounted. There is a constant need for checks and adjustments to ensure the validity and reliability of a metric. For the entire process, the amount of expenses can already be estimated to be quite substantial, not to mention the effort and energy that must be exerted.
The use of pre-made programs, on the other hand, will prove to be the complete opposite of using conventional processes for the development and formulation of metrics. In the first place, the focus of the program is not simply centered on the development, formulation, or creation of metrics. Rather, it involves the entire process of performance and productivity enhancement. From the moment the preliminary data is entered in the program, automatic calculations, estimations, comparisons, and conclusions are already undertaken in a matter of seconds, which would normally take hours when done manually. These results may then be used as bases for the recommendations that will be formulated and presented to the concerned body for implementation.
In conventional methods, hours have already been spent just trying to pinpoint the metrics that will be needed. With the use of automated programs, the entire process, including the formulation and presentation of recommendations, would have been completed in roughly the same time. Although the use of programs may need the allocation of a budget for the licensing and for the use of professionals or experts, the benefit that is derived from a significantly shorter length of time for performance evaluation certainly garners more weight than spending weeks doing performance evaluation.
Metrics development has been and always will be an integral part of performance evaluation. When choosing between the two processes, preference will really depend on the company. While some would prefer priority in time, some would still stick with the conventional methods for reasons deemed beneficial to their interest.
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Article Source: Metrics Development Programs: To Use or Not To Use?