Types of metrics

In addition to metrics that are user-entered, there are three types of metrics: computed, rollup, and planned. You set the metric type when you add the metric to a particular metrics template. As a result, the same metric can be computed for a project and roll up in a program or plan.

Computed metrics

To specify that a metric is computed, rather than user-entered, you check the Computed box and enter a formula when you add the metric to a metrics template.

For example, you create an ROI (return on investment) metric. When you add it to a metrics template, you define that it is computed using the following formula:

((TotalRevenue - TotalCost)/TotalCost)*100

When you define a formula for a metric, you use the Internal Name defined for each metric in the formula.

You can use the following operators in the Formula field: +, -, *, /, SUM, AVG, MIN, MAX, and ROLLUP.

If you include a NULL value in the formula, these operators treat the NULL value differently. Aggregation functions (SUM, AVG, MIN, and MAX) ignore the NULL value. Arithmetic calculations treat the NULL value as 0; however, if you enter #/0 or #/NULL, Marketing Operations displays #DIV/0!

Metric rollups

When you add a metric to a metrics template, you can specify that the metric will "roll up" from the child object to the parent object. For example, project metrics can roll up to the parent program level, and program metrics roll up to the parent plan level.

Metrics that roll up can display on the Tracking tab of the parent object.

Any project metrics that you configure for rollup display in the Project Rollups table on the Tracking tab of the parent program.

Any program metrics that you configure for rollup display in the Program Rollups table on the Tracking tab of the parent plan.

For example, to track the number of responders to all projects in a program, you define the following metrics:

NumberOfRespondersPassed, representing the number of responders from the projects.

NumberOfProgramResponders, representing the number of responders in the program.

Next, you add the metrics to metric templates as follows:

For the project metric template, add a group (for example, Performance) and add the NumberOfRespondersPassed metric to it. Do not select Computed or Roll-up when adding the metric to the group.

For the program metric template, add a group (for example, Performance) and add the NumberOfProgramResponders metric to it. Do not select Computed or Roll-up when adding the metric to the group.

For the program metric template, add the NumberOfRespondersPassed metric in two places:

To the metrics template, without a group: click Manage Metrics and check the Roll-up box.

To any group (typically, a group that matches the group in the project metric template: in this example, Performance). Clear the Roll-up box. Check Computed and enter the following formula: NumberOfProgramResponders+ROLLUP(NumberOfRespondersPassed)

Planned metrics

To include goals and performance expectations for your plans and programs, you can identify metrics as being planned. Planned metrics are similar to rollups in that values are inherited from one object in the hierarchy to another, but in the opposite direction: child objects inherit planned metrics from parent objects.

To define a planned metric, check both the Roll-up and Is Planned boxes when adding the metric to the plan or program metrics template. Planned metrics appear in the Planned column of the metrics table on the Tracking tab of each child object.