Lesson 8: Create Key Performance Indicators

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In this lesson, you will create Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). KPIs are used to gauge performance of a value, defined by a Base measure, against a Target value, also defined by a measure or by an absolute value. In reporting client applications, KPIs can provide business professionals a quick and easy way to understand a summary of business success or to identify trends. To learn more, see KPIs (SSAS Tabular).

Estimated time to complete this lesson: 15 minutes

Prerequisites

This topic is part of a tabular modeling tutorial, which should be completed in order. Before performing the tasks in this lesson, you should have completed the previous lesson: Lesson 7: Create Measures.

Create Key Performance Indicators

To create an Internet Current Quarter Sales Performance KPI

  1. In the model designer, click the Internet Sales table (tab).

  2. In the measure grid, click an empty cell.

  3. In the formula bar, above the table, type the following formula:

    Internet Current Quarter Sales Performance :=IFERROR([Internet Current Quarter Sales]/[Internet Previous Quarter Sales Proportion to QTD],BLANK())

    When you have finished building the formula, press ENTER.

    This measure will serve as the Base measure for the KPI.

  4. In the measure grid, right-click the Internet Current Quarter Sales Performance measure, and then click Create KPI.

    The Key Performance Indicator dialog box opens.

  5. In the Key Performance Indicator dialog box, in Define Target Value, select the Absolute Value option.

  6. In the Absolute Value field, type 1.1, and then press ENTER.

  7. In Define Status Thresholds, in the left (low) slider field, type 1, and then in the right (high) slider field, type 1.07.

  8. In Select Icon Style, select the diamond (red), triangle (yellow), circle (green) icon type.

    Tip

    Notice the Descriptions expandable field below the available icon styles. You can type descriptions for the various KPI elements to make them more identifiable in client applications.

  9. Click OK to complete the KPI.

    In the measure grid, notice the icon next to the Internet Current Quarter Sales Performance measure. This icon indicates that this measure serves as a Base value for a KPI.

To create an Internet Current Quarter Margin Performance KPI

  1. In the measure grid for the Internet Sales table, click an empty cell.

  2. In the formula bar, above the table, type the following formula:

    Internet Current Quarter Margin Performance :=IF([Internet Previous Quarter Margin Proportion to QTD]<>0,([Internet Current Quarter Margin]-[Internet Previous Quarter Margin Proportion to QTD])/[Internet Previous Quarter Margin Proportion to QTD],BLANK())

    When you have finished building the formula, press ENTER.

  3. In the measure grid, right-click the Internet Current Quarter Margin Performance measure, and then click Create KPI.

  4. In the Key Performance Indicator dialog box, in Define Target Value, select the Absolute Value option.

  5. In the Absolute Value field, type 1.25.

  6. In Define Status Thresholds, slide the left (low) slider field until the field displays 0.8, and then slide the right (high) slider field, until the field displays 1.03.

  7. In Select Icon Style, select the diamond (red), triangle (yellow), circle (green) icon type, and then click OK.

Next Step

To continue this tutorial, go to the next lesson: Lesson 9: Create Perspectives.