KPI & data definitions.
Agree on what a number means, how it is calculated, and who maintains it before comparing reports.
Meaning and structure.
- KPI definition
- A key performance indicator (KPI) definition connects a measure to a goal: purpose, calculation, population, time period, and accountable owner.
- Data definition
- A data definition explains a field used in that calculation, including its meaning, type, units, and treatment of missing values.
A business glossary collects shared business terms. A data dictionary documents technical fields and types. Keep the business meaning connected to its documented source fields; neither a field name nor a dashboard label explains the whole calculation.
Write a usable definition.
- Name the measure, its purpose, and the decision it supports.
- Specify the population, units, reporting period, timezone, and exclusions.
- Document the formula, input fields, duplicate handling, missing values, and zero-denominator behavior.
- Name an owner and reference the source system and consuming report.
- Agree a review process and record the definition's status.
Fictional, nonclinical example
On-time report delivery.
Divide scheduled reports delivered by their deadline by all reports due that week, then multiply by 100. Exclude canceled reports; count each scheduled delivery once. Record the deadline timezone. If none are due, report “not applicable.” Owner: reporting lead. Source: delivery log. Purpose: review missed reporting commitments.
Use the CSV field guide to prepare your own records. Capture scope and handling rules within the definition, business context, and formula.
MeasureMap documents metric metadata. Source references are not connectors; the registry does not execute calculations. For extraction, cleaning, and pipelines, see CGC Labs data engineering.
Download the CSV template ↓