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Glossary

Performance management is a relatively new concept with dozens of words, phrases and acronyms increasingly in use. While the following is not a comprehensive performance management dictionary, all the terms below do relate to the Escendency system (many interact with Escendency online help) and in consequence many are in common usuage in performance management and organisation improvement and so may assist in clarifying terms already in use.

Note: Escendency encourages feedback from our clients. If you have any suggestions for additional entries to this Glossary or have questions about current definitions, please email us at support@escendency.com with your comments and suggestions.

Access levels (see also User Groups)
Levels of access privileges set in the Access Levels (and user groups) module that are used to determine those parts of the system visible to specific user groups.
Access Levels module
This module defines user groups with specific access rights. Users are assigned to groups through the Users section. The Escendency system comes supplied with three default user groups: Administrators, Managers, and Users, but these can be deleted, edited and added to. Only the Administrator group has a preconfigured access level, sysadmin, with System Administrator rights.
Action plan
An action that is necessary to achieve a performance target. Action plans are either proactive, i.e. they are conceived before the performance target is completed or reactive, i.e. they are remedial measures put in place to stop a target from failing further: Example: A performance target of reducing office paper usuage by 20% could be associated with an action plan of purchasing a video conferencing system. This action plan could in turn comprise 3 tasks:
  1. comprise a list of video conferencing systems
  2. obtain quotes for video conferencing systems and
  3. evaluate exisiting systems based on function and budget.
Action Planning module
Action planning module accessed from the module menu or tools palette allows users to create and edit new or existing action plans.
Action Plan List report
(see Action Plan Report)
Action Plan Report
Action plans are reported either as action plan list reports or action plan summary reports. List reports list the action plans related to a specific part of the system (strategy map, user, organisation post, another action plan etc) and are accessed from the action planicon. Clicking on an action in a list report will access that action plan's summary report. Summary reports list all related action plans and their respective tasks and as well as being accessed from list reports can also be accessed from the action plan dashboard graphic.
Action Plan Summary Report
(see Action Plan Report)
Action Plans Tab
Action plans owned by the current user and accessed from the action plan tab in the control panel.
Action plan tasks
The one or more organisation tasks that comprise an individual action plan (see Action plan above) .
Action plan types
Action plan types can be assigned an organisation type, e.g. Primary, Secondary, Activity (see Action plan above). For example, a secondary action plan can be related to a primary action plan during set up. The action plan type is shown on the action plan summary report.
Add/View Responsibility
Performance target option found by right clicking on a measurable part of a strategy map item that is already associated with a performance target. Add/View Responsibility allows measurement responsibility to be reassigned. For targets that have not passed their end date there is an Edit Target Value option.
Add/View Target
Performance target creation and/or edit option found by right clicking on a measurable part of a strategy map item.
Aims (and Aims item)
Synonymous with Objective. A qualitative goal of an organisation that goes towards fulfilling the organisation's top level objective, vision, or mission. Also a pre-loaded strategy map item: Arbitraily either the next item below a Mission (or Vision) item of an organisation's strategy map or the next item below an Objectives item of an organisation's strategy map and non-measurable.
Application
The Escendency software comprises a number of component applications, referred to as (and synonymous with) modules, that are system wide in scope (with the exception of 'My Password') and are accessed from the menu on the left hand side of the control panel pages. Examples include action planning, strategy map, organisation chart, and equation builder.
Assessment Module

The assessment module accessed from the module menu or tools tab allows system users to easily perform non-indicator based performance assessments that encompass a range of categories on any type of system item or as a stand alone assessment.

This matrix based approach to assessments that do not fall within the usual performance indicator based approach enables a wide range of additional corporate performance information to be included within the Escendency System, such as:

  • Risk Assessments
  • HR Appraisals
  • Student evaluations
  • Satisfaction Surveys
  • Environmental Impact
Average current value type
see Current Value type
Benchmark Value
An optional comparison value for a performance target. The benchmark value can be suggested from an outside authority or decided upon internally.
Children
Refers to the next item below an item: for example a department element in the organisation chart would be a child of a service element above it, a target item in the strategy map would be a child of the objective item above it. All organisation elements are children of the top organisation element and all strategy map items are children of the organisation's performance vision.
Colour coding
Colours indicate performance status of the system: green is on target, amber is measurement required, red is failing, blue is overachieving and grey is not assessed (no measurements). Colours are used in conjunction with icons and symbols to indicate performance status over different display modes.
Components
An Escendency help term that typically refers to any component of the performance management system, e.g. performance indicators, action plans, strategy map items, organisational elements and posts etc.
Contributions
see Strategic Contributions
Control Panel
After logging onto the Escendency system, the first page a user will see is the control panel page that displays tabs on the top of the page that contain information specific and relevant to the user and a module menu on the left hand side that contains applications and links relevant to the organisation as a whole. The default control panel page is the dashboard display.
Corporate Performance Overview
An executive/overview report that comprehensively displays the organisation's corporate performance plan and status by strategy map item, performance target, or organisation post. Drill down options allow other global performance reports to be displayed.
Current Value type

Field located in the performance indicator edit window. There are three default value types: Cumulative, Snapshot and Average:

Cumulative is typically used for when a target is a fixed number measured several times during the target's duration. For example "number of new build houses on brownfield sites" measured every quarter and summed at the end of the year to compare to a final target number of new houses built

Average is typically used when a target returns a mean, or a percentage mean that is averaged, at the end of the target duration. For example "average length of stay in temporary accommodation (B&B)" reported as days per month and measured over a year

Snapshot is used when a discrete measurement is required per measurement period, for example for a performance indicator that requires an action to be taken if it reaches a certain level at any given time ("Number of public disorder events in a month". "City Centre's Daily ozone concentration (ppb)", or if the performance indicator reports an annual result as a percentage for the year but is measured quarterly (e.g. "Number of minor planning applications completed within 8 weeks"). In the latter case, because percentages cannot usually be summed or averaged (unless the denominator is constant) the measurer will either input 'to date' values (such that the value for the second quarter would take into account both the first and second quarter) or the performance indicator is attached to an equation that calculates the performance target outturn to date.

Cumulative current value type
(see Current Value type)
Dashboard
The Dashboard display is the default page on logging onto the Escendency system and displays customised performance data in the form of gauges and charts. Clicking on displayed charts displays a full performance target report for all the targets associated with that graph. Access to displays is based on user privileges but can be customised within those privileges from the Dashboard palette.
Dashboard palette
palette Icon on the top LHS of the Dashboard window that accesses the Dashboard options.
Data Import
Part of the measurement entry functionality: users can import performance target data previously exported from the performance indicator library report (or from their own customised worksheets).
Data Tags
A means to add qualitative information to any part of a strategy map. The information shows up on related performance reports. Typical use would be demographic information for a student.
DCLG (Dept for Communities & Local Govt.)
Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) changed from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister changed in the April 2006 cabinet reshuffle the website link is http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/.
Delegation
Delegation of a measurement task, for example if the responsible user is absent, can be set up from the Add/View targets option from the Strategy Map application.
Department element
A pre-loaded organisation element. Arbitrarily, shares either the same level as a Service element or is assigned within a service.
Directorate element
A pre-loaded organisation element. Arbitrarily a second level within the organisation chart.
Drill down
Both a concept and a feature. As a concept, 'drill down' implies the ability to look further and further into the details of a performance system, akin to zooming in with a telephoto camera lens, and as a feature of Esendency reports and charts where the user can 'drill down' to the finest performance detail available.
Document Library
An organisation specific link to web hosted internal documents set up by Escendency on request. Typically, these documents will refer to usuage of the Escendency system specific to that organisation though a link to common documentation that may be of value to all clients is also offered by Escendency.
Edit Target Value
An option of Add/View Responsibility. Target values can only be edited if the target end date has not passed.
Element
Although technically synonymous with 'item', 'element' is used in the Escendency system to describe organisation chart items such as Directorate, Services, Departments, and Team elements.
End Target

A button on the base of the of View/Edit Targets page (an option of Add/View Targets). There are three ending target options:

End Measurement
to be used if no more measurements are required for the target: For example, if the target is reached early and there is no need for additional measurements (for example a financial goal) then the target can still run until the end but no more measurement tasks will be prompted for.
End target as of today
to stop any subsequent measurement tasks appearing. Note: any measurement tasks outstanding before this action will still be active.
End target as of most recent measurement date
which will end the target at the latest entered measurement. For example, if the target is quarterly measured and is stopped using this option after 7 months but has only the first quarter measurement in place then there will be no prompts for a second measurement.

Note: Option 2 and 3 will affect the target wizard if subsequent targets have not already been completed (i.e. a new target created after one ended today will default start tomorrow).

Equation (as a field)
Equation field in the performance indicator edit window: If a performance indicator is best described by an equation the user can set up the relevant equation measurements and equation in the equation builder module and then select the equation from this drop down list.
Equation builder
A module that allows complex performance indicators to be represented by formulas comprising operators (equation operators such as "+", "-", "=", "/" etc), parameters, measurements, constants (a non-changing numeric value such as Pi) and other performance indicators. The Escendency system can be pre-loaded with equations for an organisation's statutory performance indicators as requested and these can be edited and added to in this module.
Escendency web site
The Escendency web site describes the Escendency system and the Escendency SMART (Strategy Mapping And Reporting Technology) philosophy.
Export target
Ability to export Escendency system performance data, reports and graphs to other locations within and without the organisation. Performance target data and / or performance indicators can be exported as MS Excel, MS Access or CSV files via the export target data module and the performance indicator library report.
Export Report button
Export Report button at the base of all Escendency reports. Allows the report to be saved as a zip file in any network location. The default setting is as an HTML document but the report can be copied in toto and pasted into an MS Word or Adobe pdf document. Note that drill down options on exported reports are not active.
Export Target Data module
Performance target data and performance indicator libraries can be exported as MS Excel, MS Access or CSV files using this module.
Flat Map
A strategy map in the Escendency system that locates all the performancetargets immediately underneath the organisation's top level objective to enable easier setting of strategic contributions
Forecast Value
A forecast value is used when an organisation predicts a value different from the performance target value (for example, for a range or phase target). It does not affect performance but is graphed along with performance measurement. If the organisation knows what its forecast values will be for four years for four targets then up to four forecast values can be entered in the first target set up. Creation of default targets will automatically rollover and move up previous target's forecasts:
Year Targets (%): 2006/7 2007/8 2008/9 2009/10
Forecast 1 25 50 75 100
Forecast 2 50 75 100  
Forecast 3 75 100    
Forecast 4 100      
Gauges

A graphical display of performance data chosen by the user to be displayed in the Dashboard control panel page. The gauge shows overall progress towards a performance target or group of targets at the time the system was last calculated. It is important to realise that gauges are indicators of the organisation's performance in real time and not indicators of how far along the performance targets are.

For example, a gauge displaying 80% of a vision on target only means 80% of the vision is on target at this time during the current measurement period. It in no way implies that 80% of the organisation's vision is now complete. The indicator on the outer side of the gauge shows the postion of the pointer at the last system update and thereby illustrates at a glance whether performance is improving or deterioating.

Golden Thread

An unbroken linkage of dependability and contribution that is built into performance management systems whether software or paper based.

In practice, this can be visualised as a non-hierarchial tree structure where the tree itself is the corporate vision and comprises the summing together of all of the roots and branches of the organisation.

The sum existance of a tree depends on the continuation of a connection throughout the tree from the very ends of the roots collecting soil nutrients and water and the very end of its branches capturing sunlight and carbon dioxide.

The sum existance of an organisation depends on the continuation of people communicating their contributions within their organisation thereby sustaining their organisation's health. In peformance management this is quantified through performance targets, usually through the acheivement of action plans, that, like rootlets and leaves, ultimately sustain the organisation to which they belong.

Help Page List
An alphabetic list of all the current Escendency online help pages.
Helpdesk
Located on the main page module menu, this is a link to the Escendency online ticketing system (located at http://helpdesk.escendency.com) where users can log technical or general questions to Escendency Support.
Hierarchy
A traditional model of performance management where the top levels of an organisation dictate corporate policy and directives to lower levels in the organisation. Within the Escendency system, hierarchy can be seen in the way contributions calculate up the strategy map or organisation chart.
Historic Value
A benchmark field used to record previous performance results when settiing up a new performance target (see also forecast values).
Icon coding
Escendency uses an icon and colour coded approach to display performance in both graphical and tree structures. For examples and a full list of icons see control panel help's icon coding. See also Traffic Lights.
Indicator Definition
Performance indicators are defined in the indicator definition field of the performance indicator edit window.
Indicator Measurement Type

Field located in the performance indicator edit window. A performance indicator can be constructed in two ways: simple or equation.

Simple performance indicators are not dependent on any other parameters for their value, for example "number of new build houses on brownfield sites".

Equation performance indicators are complex and require at least two component values to create a final measurement value.

Example "percentage of household waste composted". This measurement (CP) is comprised of two measurements and a constant: the total amount of household waste (W), the total amount of composted waste (C), and 100 to convert the proportion to a percentage: CP = (C / W) x 100

The Escendency system comes pre-loaded with organisation specific statutory peformance indicators and already built equations but allows users the flexibility to create and edit their own (see equation builder help for more examples and explanation of how the Escendency system creates and uses equations).

Indicator Type
Field located in the performance indicator edit window. There are usually two default types depending on the type of organisation. For example, Local and statutory. Indicator types can be deleted, edited and created in the PI Types module. There is no limit to the number of indicator types the system can hold.
Intervals
Intervals module accessed from the module menu or tools tab. Intervals for measurement, audit and reporting are selected for performance indicators from a list of intervals set up in this module.
Item
An icon based pictorial representation of components of the system, e.g. a strategy map item, such as an Aim, or an organisation chart item, such as a Directorate.
JUDI (Joint User Development Interface)

Escendency's Joint User Developer Interface (JUDI). JUDI was developed in 2006 to give total transparency of Escendency's development environment to users. Issues and enhancement requests made through the Helpdesk, or from internal roadmapping sessions, are entered into JUDI where they are given a number, description, expected release date, priority, developer assignment, suggested solution/s, and status (open, ready for build, completed, etc). JUDI contains every Escendency development specification since Nov. 2005. Users have a read only access to JUDI so can witness first hand the progress being made on any development of interest to them.

Escendency's pledge to continual improvement based on customer feedback and expansion into new markets is facilitated by a joint user developer interface (JUDI) that is accessed online and accessible to all Escendency users.

Enhancement and bug fix requests made by users on the Escendency Helpdesk ticketing system are entered into JUDI by the Escendency development team enabling customers to be able to track development work as it happens.

JUDI can be accessed from: http://systems.escendency.net/internal/judi. A username and password is required to logon to the system and this can be obtained from Escendency support.

Key Performance Indicators (KPI)
A generic term for performance indicators that an organisation may be required to use by an external regulatory body.
Line Manager
(see Manager Post)
Links
The links displayed as menu options in the Escendency system tools window (e.g. GLOSSARY, HELP, Document Library etc).
Logical Tree
See also Golden Thread. A logical tree is a conceptualised tree structure that most organisation's performance strategy and organisation chart are based on that reflects a 'Golden Thread' approach.
Manager Post
During setup of a post there is an option to select a post as the manager post. Typically this would be the next post above the one being set up and is synonymous with a line manager. If a user has access to the 'Staff' tab on the system's control panel all users linked below that user through the line manager link will be visible.
Measurable Strategy Map Item
A user defined item on the strategy map that is associated with a performance target and so contributes a measurable quantity to the organisation's vision.
Measurement
Any input date value - reserved in the Escendency system to refer to non-performance indicator measurements used to create equations (see Equation Builder, Measurements).
Measurement Entry
Measurement entry interface is accessed from Measurement and PI Measurement tasks in the user's task tab. The latter allow data import, measurement history and performance indicator graph display.
Measurement Interval
Refers to the timing of performance measurements in the performance indicator edit window e.g Annual, Quarterly, Monthly, Daily etc. The intervals can be edited and added to in the Time Intervals module.
Measurement Planner
An icon in the top left hand side of the Task tab allows users to view overdue, current and forthcoming PI measurement tasks. The latter enables uses to enter future measurements (the same as foward measurements).
Measurement type
Measurement type field in the performance indicator edit window: Measurements can be Numeric (integer), Numeric (floating point), Percentage, Yes/No, Currency, or Date.
Measurer
A user assigned performance indicator measurement tasks.
Mission item
A pre-loaded strategy map item: Synonymous with "Vision", arbitraily the top level objective of an organisation's strategy map and non-measurable. Note: in some clients this item is replaced with a 'Vision' item.
Module Menu
The menu of system applications displayed in the system tools window.
Modules
The system applications displayed as menu options in the system tools window.
My Control Panel
(see Control Panel)
My Measurement Planner
A list of all tasks assigned to the user and accessed from the date picker icon in the Task window.
My Password module
A user can change their password using this option. User's passwords can be changed by administrators in the Users module.
Object
The Escendency SMART system is object based. The software is defined by a series of objects that have specific properties. All the main components of the Escendency system are objects, for example strategy map, organisation chart, users, performance indicators, performance targets, assessment projects, action plans, action plan tasks, etc
Objectives (and Objectives item)
Synonymous with Aim. A qualitative goal of an organisation that goes towards fulfilling the organisation's top level aim, vision, or mission. Also a pre-loaded strategy map item: Arbitraily either the next item below a Mission (or Vision) item of an organisation's strategy map and non-measurable or the next item below an Aims item of an organisation's strategy map and non-measurable.
Org Chart module
The organisation module that allows organisations to set up their organisation charts.
Organisation Chart
An icon based pictorial representation of an organisation's organisation chart that can be created and customised by the organisation.
Organisation Element
A pre-loaded organisation element. Arbitrarily, the top level of the organisation chart.
Organisation Improvement
A consequence of adopting a logical organisation structure that can be reflected in the Escendency system and often results in marked improvement in an organisation's community and corporate strategy.
Organisation Post
A specific post in the organisation that can only be linked to one user (and one user can only be linked to one post). Posts cannot be nested under another post but the Post Manager option allows a line manager relationshipto be established in the system.
Overnight Job
This refers to the automatic system update that will recalculate all of the system reports. Measurements entered during the day will not show up in the system until the following day unless the overnight job is run manually from the Recalculate Reports module accessed from the Systems Tools module (though this will take up considerable system resources and is best done when users are off the system).
Outturn
The value reported for a performance target measurement.
Owners
The post within an organisation responsible for a performance target, action plan or action plan task.
Parameters
Any value that remains constant during a target's duration that is used to build equations in the Equation builder module (see Equation Builder, Parameters).
Parent
The next item above the current item or element in the strategy map or organisation chart
Performance Indicator

A measurable component of an organisation's performance vision. A performance indicator must be able to quantify a specific measure of performance, and, as such, be defined as demonstrating good performance if the value fits the criteria of high is good, low is good, or value is in a range (see Performance Indicator: High/Low/Range for examples).

Performance indicators (PIs) can be simple measurements (e.g. number of conservation areas in a District) or defined by an equation (e.g. the percentage of household waste recycled). A PI is associated with a performance target set for a specific duration (e.g. 5 new conservation areas in the District within the next calender year or 40% household waste recycled in the next 3 years). In the Escendency system, the performance target is assigned to strategy map.

Performance Indicator: Current Value Type
A performance indicator module edit field: Current value types can be Snapshot, average or cumulative. The current value type chosen is determined by the definition of the performance indicator and the performance target that will relate to it. For example; total tonnage of waste sent to landfill would be a cumulative measure (BV 82d (i)), the average waiting time for assesments would be an average measure (BV 195), and identification of the number of contaminated sites (assessed at the end of a Council's fiscal year) would be a snapshot (BV 126a). These parameters are fixed in the Escendency system.
Performance Indicator: High/Low/Range

A performance indicator module edit field: A good value for any performance indicators can be described by one of three categories: High (e.g. percentage of household waste recycled), Low (e.g. number of burglaries), or Range (e.g class size in schools). If a performance indicator cannot have a value that can be determined as good if either high, low, or in a range, then it is technically not a performance indicator.

Examples of incorrectly defined statutory "performance indicators" taken from the BVPI list from DCLG (Department of Communities and Local Government) include BV016b: Percentage of Economically Active People who have a Disability, BV017b: Ethnic minority representation in the workforce / local population, and BV216a: Identifying Contaminated Land. For these situations Escendency recommends using "Range" as an option.

Performance Indicator: Indicator Measurement Type
A performance indicator module edit field: An indicator can be either simple (single measurement value) or equation (i.e. defined by a formula). In the latter case the relevant equation is attached to the PI from the "Equation" dropdown field. See Equation Builder for help on using and/or creating equations.
Performance Indicator: Indicator Type
A performance indicator module edit field: There are two default performance indicator types in the system: Statutory (e.g. NIs for councils) and Local (typically used as inhouse or organisation specific indicators). Indicator types can be edited, deleted and added to in the PI Indicator Type module.
Performance Indicator: Measurement Type
A performance indicator module edit field: The data type of the indicator's measurements. Note: these are preconfigured in the system and cannot be edited.
Numeric
Integers or whole numbers, e.g. 10
Numeric (floating point)
Numbers with a decimal point, e.g. 10.04
Yes/no
I.E. "yes" or "no" as to whether the target has been reached. Note: only use "snapshot" as the current value type for yes/no indicators
Currency (£)
Pounds sterling. Users will not need to enter the £ sign
Percentage
A percentage. Users will not need to enter the % sign
Date
A date. The system will provide users with a date-picker widget. Note: only use "snapshot" as the current value type for date indicators.
Performance Indicator: Scale Factor
A performance indicator module edit field: If data entered will routinely be in large numbers, e.g. in thousands or tens of thousands (for example, kilograms of waste sent to landfill per month), setting a scale factor can save data enterers from having to enter large number of zeroes (and also reduce data entry errors). Enter a scale factor with an appropriate number of zeroes, e.g. for data to be measured in thousands set a scale factor of a thousand so that instead of entering "6700" the data enterer would enter "6.7".
Performance Indicator Categories
There are several preloaded Performance Indicator Categories in the system that mirror those used by the statutory bodies related to the organisation. PI categories typically breakdown by an organisation's department and/or service e.g. Education, Community Safety, Housing etc. Performance indicator categories can be added to, edited or deleted in the PI Categories module.
Performance Indicator module

Performance indicators are set up in the performance indicator module and are measured for specific performance targets. Each one can be linked to several performance targets provided there is no overlap in the performance target's duration. A performance indicator is defined by several fields with the following described in this glossary: Indicator Type, Indicator Measurement Type, Measurement Type, Category, High/Low/Range, Current Value Type and Scale Factor.

Caution!When setting up a new performance indicator it is very important to pay attention to the parameters used. Once a performance indicator is actively attached to a target it becomes impossible for users to change many of the indicator's parameters.

Performance Indicators: Averaging percentages

Caution should be used when setting up a performance indicator that is reporting an average percent

Consider this example using DCLG's performance indicator BV82b(i): Percentage of Household waste composted. This example is particularly relevant because the values may vary signficantly seasonally (more compost in the 3rd quarter because of garden waste). If the measurement is taken quarterly we could have the following hypothetical values (in 1000 tonnes)

1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter Total Waste
Waste composted 20 30 65 10 125
Total waste 120 120 150 110 500
Percent composted 16.67 25 43.33 9.09 25.00

If the quarterly percentages are averaged, however, the value is not 25.00 but 23.52.

The situation above can best be resolved in two ways:

  1. Using a simple indicator set to snapshot. The values entered each quarter would be calculated from the sum of the previous values (i.e. 20/120, 50/240, 115/390 and 125/500) so that the reported values would be the percentage of waste composted to date as opposed to per quarter.
  2. Using an equation indicator, also set to snapshot, attached to an equation comprising two summed measurements (tonnes of waste composted to date and tonnes of waste collected). Each quarterly calculation would in effect mimic example 1. but require less overhead.
Performance Indicators: preloaded
The Escendency system comes preloaded with statutory performance indicators specific for each organisation. These indicators may be simple or equation. In the latter case the indicator defaults are set to annual and snapshot and it is the organisation's responsibility to amend these values as they require. Esecendency does not take responsibility for statutory indicators that do not fit strict definitions of a performance indicator (see High/Low/Range for examples).
Performance management system
A system set up by an organisation that can be paper or software based that is used to both inform corporate structure and monitor an organisation's performance over time.
Performance Target
A measurable part of an organisation's vision that can be defined by measurements of one performance indicator attached to a measurable strategy map item for a defined time period.
Performance Target set up
Performance targets are set up in the strategy map by right clicking on a measurable strategy map item and selecting 'Add View Targets'. See performance target wizard for step-by-step set-up instructions.
Perspectives
see Scorecard Perspectives Module
Phase Targets
Located within the performance target through the 'Add/View Targets' right click option on a measurable strategy map item. Phase targets enable anticipation of indicator measurements that might not occur evenly throughout a year. For example, exam results, house building, enrollment. If it is known that data won't be available for the first 3 months of a year long performance target then Phase Target 1 can be set for zero. Then when no data is entered for the first quarter of the year the organisation will not show a performance deficit.
PI Categories module
Optional performance indicator categories (as compared to types) allow additional categorisation of PI's, for example by Community, Fire services, etc. Pis in one category can comprise one or more PI types (e.g. "Local Street and Environmental Cleanliness - Fly-tipping" is BVPI 199d, and the Council might have their own local PI "Local Street and Environmental Cleanliness - Dog fouling" and both could be under a category, "Environmental Health").
PI Types module
See Performance Indicator types.
Quartile
Upper or lower quartiles are fields in performance target set up to compare an organisation's performance with the top and lower 25% of similar organisations (where those values are known and entered during target set up.
Recalculate Reports/Targets
Systems Tools options that allows users with administrative rights to run the Escendency overnight job and update status calculations for reports or perform year end rollover (target update).
Release Notes
Escendency Release notes can be accessed from the online help, the Escendency web site or by emailing support
Reporter
A user assigned performance target reporting tasks.
Reporting Group
see Reporting Groups module)
Reporting Groups module
This enables organisation posts and associated performance targets to be brought together in a reporting group (can be synonymous with task force) that is specific to the needs of the organisation. For example, Health and Safety Committee, Enrolment Task Force etc. Post holders within the group will have access to reports that link all the performance targets and associated posts together.
Reporting interval
A required field within the Performance Indicator Edit window that displays the intervals in the Intervals module. The Escendency system comes preloaded with a series of default intervals (e.g. Annually, quarterly, monthly etc) that can be added to and edited.
Reports
The Escendency system comes pre-loaded with a comprehensive list of reports that can be accessed from the control panel tabs. Report access is controlled via user privileges and/or participation in a reporting group.
Scale Factor
Field located in the performance indicator edit window. Scale factor allows large values with many trailing zeros to be truncated during measurement entry to reduce user errors and increase speed of data entry. For example, waste to landfill may be expressed in millions of kilogrammes but rounded to the nearest 1000 Kg. In this case, a scale factor of x3 could be used and instead of a user entering in a value like "1345000" they could enter in "1345".
Scorecard Perspectives module
There are several preloaded Scorecard Perspectives in the system that mirror those typically found in a corporate or council organisation. Scorecard perspectives are typically used to describe aspects of an organisation's internal quality control, e.g. corporate governance, executive priority, service outcome, etc and so differ from performance indicator categories that list specific organisation services. A scorecard perspective might be relevant to many performance indicators related to several categories. Scorecard Perspectives are optionally added during set up or editing of performance indicators in the Performance Indicator module.
Send Message
Option in the Systems Tools module that enables a user to direct an email to one or more system users.
Service element
A pre-loaded organisation element. Arbitrarily, the third level of the organisation chart.
Snapshot measurement type
See Current Value Type.
SMART
Acronym for Strategy Mapping And Reporting Technology to describe the fundamental basis of the Escendency System approachto strategy and report development for many different types of organisations, departments within organisations, and multiple organisation based collaborations
See Current Value Type.
Statutory Performance Indicators
Referred to in Escendency help, these are those performance indicators that are mandated for a specific organisation by an outside agency, for example DCLG's BVPI's for local Governement.
Status
1. The current status of any component of the strategy map: status is either failing, on target, not accessed, or over-achieving. 2. The open or closed status of post, perspectives, performance indicator, or strategy map items.
Strategic Contribution module
The proportion of a user, strategy map item, or performance target performance (depending on the display and/or report chosen) that contributes towards the overall vision and the parent item. Synonymous with weightings, the Escendency system allows users to define the relative contribution of different parts of the strategy towards the organisation's vision. For example, if a strategy map objective comprised two performance targets and one was weighted 2 and the other 1 the first would contribute twice as much to that objective's own contribution to the organisation.
Strategy Items Type module
Module used to set up strategy map items. The Escendency systems comes preloaded with four arbitrarily named default items: Vision, Aims, Objectives and Target. Users can create additional items and edit or delete the existing objects. How the items are used in a strategy map is dependent on the organisation. Typically, the Vision item is the top level followed by Aims, Objectives and finally Targets. The latter often being designated as measurable and associated with an actual performance target.
Strategy Map
An icon based hierarchial map of an organisation's performance vision that ultimately is driven by measurable performance targets that are associated with performance indicators linked to measurable strategy map items. The strategy map can also contain Action Plans and action plan tasks that help steer the organisation into meeting its performance targets.
Success Measure
Synonymous with a performance target.
Sysadmin
A pre-configured user with complete administrative privileges on the Esecendency system.
System Tool
One of many tools or modules available to the user from thetool button on the Escendency main menu header.
Tabs
The tabs on the control panel page: includes Dashboard, Tasks, Indicators, Reports, Staff, All Users, and Action Plans. The number of tabs displayed depends on the user's privileges but also the user's own customisation of the control panel.
Tags
see Data Tags
Target
Several components of the Escendency system can be described as targets: performance targets, action plans, action plan tasks, and (optional) a measurable strategy map item named 'Target' and associated with a performance target and peformance indicator.
Target item
A pre-loaded strategy map item: Arbitraily the lowest item of an organisation's strategy map and if so would be measurable and a performance target measured by a performance indicator would be associated with this item.
Target Start Value
An option in performance target set up. Users can define a starting value for a performance target and the system will automatically calculate expected values for any time during the target's duration based on the start value and final target value. For more information, see performance target fields/target start value. See performance target fields for description of other fields in target set-up field. For examples of the use of target start values see TSV Examples.
Tasks
The task tab on the control panel or tasks associated with an action plan (see action plan tasks above).
Team
A pre-loaded organisation element. Arbitrarily, the forth level of the organisation chart.
The organisation
References to 'the organisation' refer to any organisation that is utilising the Escendency Performance Management System.
The system
References to 'the system' refer to the Escendency Performance Management System.
Time Intervals module
Used to set up the time intervals used in peformance indicator measurement, reporting, and validating.
Top Level Objective
The top item in a strategy map. Often referred to as the Vision or Mission and synonymous with both.
Traffic Lights

The Escendency system represents performance status with a colour coded and icon traffic light approach:

High is good Low is good
green tick and star Performance target completed successfully Performance target completed successfully
tick with warning >110% of performance target/phase target <110% of performance target/phase target
green tick 100% of performance target/phase target 100% of performance target/phase target
warning 80-99% of performance target/phase target 101-120% of performance target/phase target
double warning 79% or less of performance target/phase target 121% or more of performance target/phase target

For more information on icons and colour coding see Control Panel help.

Units of Measure module
Used to set up the units of measurement for performance indicators (e.g. Kg, L, tonnes).
Update target activity
An option in System Tools that enables manual rollover of year end targets.
User
A user with a user account on the Escendency system.
User Groups (see also Access Levels)
All users are assigned to a user group. There are three default user groups: Administrators, Managers, and Users. Only Administrators are preconfigured with a Sysadmin access level. Access levels and new user groups are added in the Access Levels module.
Users module
Administrative module to set up and edit new and existing users.
Validation Interval
A field on the performance indicator edit window. Select the validation time.
Validator
A user assigned to a performance target validation task.
Vision item
A pre-loaded strategy map item: Synonymous with "Mission", arbitraily the top level objective of an organisation's strategy map and non-measurable. Note: in some clients this item is replaced with a 'Mission' item.
Weightings
see Strategic Contributions module)
Year End Rollover
Referring to the calculations to update and recalculate targets in preparation for the next year's worth of performance measurements. This can be done by the organisation from the update target activity option in the system tools module.