#CIO & IT dashboard - Improve what we measure - There is no one-size-fits-all dashboard

We can only improve what we measure!

Indicators reflect this. A performance indicator is the information needed to drive action towards a goal.

Therefore, it is essential to master the art of dashboarding.

There is no one-size-fits-all dashboard

It's not a method; it's a tool created to "explain something" based on a context. Each dashboard adapts to the approach of the company or the project. And how does this work in an IT department?

IT is becoming an increasingly essential support for implementing the company's strategy defined by the CEO. The CIO is multifaceted – both a strategist, technical expert, and functional leader – and oversees a pool of resources. Therefore, they must understand and translate what their management expects, what matters to the business units, etc. The dashboard is one of their best tools to align with the company, provided they engage in a dialogue with the people who drive it.

The CIO's dashboards are a means to highlight the positives and explain the negatives – whether related to a company, project, strategy, or purchase. To achieve this, the CIO must listen to the needs of their stakeholders: what are the key performance metrics (cost, timeline, price...), judgment criteria (throughput, uptime, features...), etc.?

Dashboards, customized from one department to another, are, remember, designed for those who use them, not those who create them, and should therefore not be fixed.

In the end, if we were to create a dashboard for the ideal dashboard, what are the key performance indicators (#KPIs) of a dashboard?

    To be consistently used by management and teams.

    To be consulted (e.g., at the beginning of IT department meetings).

    To be used as a basis for reporting and communication with the CEO or users.

Critical indicators can be displayed. They can come in three types:

    Factual indicators

    Perception indicators (surveys, comparisons...)

    Trend indicators (the two previous ones analyzed over time).

What are the performance indicators for the IT department itself?

The IT department's performance has two components:

    Effectiveness: Achieving objectives.

    Efficiency: Cost-effectiveness.