Customer Reviews

Key Performance Indicators: Developing, Implementing,and Using Winning KPIs

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I'm a finance professional working for one of the Fortune 500 companies. Recently I was tasked with coming out with KPIs for my company. This book turned out to be really useless for implementation. It is one of those books based upon a "Bait and Switch" tactic. Throughout the book, the author keeps promoting his website and for extra fees, ( in the region of only USD$400!!!) you can get the required extra materials. This really gives the reader a bad feeling. C'mon, I've already paid the full price for the book. Why sell me something that's half-baked and incomplete? As one other reviewer mentioned, the so-called downloads from his website are non-existent, apart from those which require a whopping USD400! STAY AWAY FROM THIS BOOK! In fact, I've decided to stay far away from any other works by this author in the future too!

The main purpose of this book is to be a practical methodology to implement KPIs, and it does this reasonably well.

I would say that many recommendations throughout the book will be of good use, although there are several concepts that are applicable in a cultural environment that is more common to multinational companies or very large local companies.

The best chapter of this book is the first, where David Parmenter discusses the concept of a KPI, from a practical point of view. He divides indicators in three basic types, that makes sense and help understand them :
. KRI - Key Results Indicator
. PI - Performance Indicator
. KPI - Key Performance Indicator

In this chapter, he emphasizes the fact that KPIs are just the few main indicators that management of a business must identify, so that they focus on the right things... Something to remember all the time when you are implementing BSCs, Dashboards and the like.

The proposed approach behind this methodology is a practical one. It is for those that want faster results. The final phrase of the book could be: "roll up your sleeves and put KPIs to work as fast as you can".

As we know from another business author, the 'Knowing - Doing Gap' can be difficult to close. For Balance Scorecard fans, KPI consultant David Parmenter fills that gap. Written as an instruction manual for implementing performance measurement in any organization, this easy to read guide provides both context and content for a 'just do it'' approach; implementing a successful performance measurement system this is, in any business sector.

Among the many things this book does well, the most important may be: Setting the context for key implementation steps. In addition to his 12 step process, Parmenter presents 5 critical aspects of a KPI system.

One, he open's the dialogue by providing all important distinctions between; Key Results Indicators (KRIs), team Performance Indicators (PIs), and leadership's Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). He says these should be balanced 10/80/10. This is foundational to successful implementation.
Two, he links these to strategy thru a clear understanding of well thought out (and few in number) Critical Success Factors (CSFs) - one of the most critical and hardest parts of for making measurement effective at a working level.
Three, he exposes the 'best practice' myth; rightly acknowledging that the goal is the continuous adaptation of 'better' practices and not a misguided belief in the redemptive qualities and often misapplication of someone else's "best practice".
Four, he stresses the importance of understanding measurement as a constantly evolving process and not a one-time establishment of the "right" measures.
And, five, he places performance measurement within the overall context of organizational development. A part of the whole, but not the whole.

The approach is pragmatic, the steps are clear and doable, the materials don't give the answer, but they provide a well-defined space in which to write your own business particulars. This book does not belong on any manager's book shelf; it belongs on their working table. This one is a winner for those who want doing and not just knowing.

Dennis DeWilde, author of "The Performance Connection"

I am disappointed with this book. There are not enough steps to help show how to program KPIs, just pictures. The advertised templates on the author's web site are not yet available. He plans to charge for them also. This is not a good book to help develop KPIs,just talk and pictures.

I found this book very well organized, written in plain English and building a very solid base step by step. It contains practical and valid procedures for companies executives to sit down and agree on a process to explore the KPIs of their business. In addition to make everyone share in collecting the data and have a role rather than one man show. I found this book inspiring and full of standard checklists that can be customised as per needs. This book is not recommending specific software but pushing to understand your needs then you can visualise it they way you want and there are tens of good software over the net. The only drawback I found was to have a cd accompanying the book for the illustrated check lists, however, I have sent email to the author and he has helped me honestly and that was something appreciated and a point to raise and add to previous reviews.

This was a very easy concise yet comprehensive framework and structure for developing and implementing KPI's. It distinguishes true KPI's from performance indicators or results indicators which people gravitate to as they think they are KPI's. This laid out a logical framework to follow. It is an easy read and provides many checklists as well as sample KPI's.

This book was recommended to me as "the book" to read to develop KPIs. After I read it, it was obvious that the person that recommended it to me had not read it at all.
The book is very repetitious and could be condensed down to 20 pages maximum. It is very basic and uses a limited number of examples throughout. This is a major shortcoming as a variety of examples may have provided some robustness to the authors arguments (and hence a greater understanding on the readers part). The book contains numerous recommendations for other products (which is perhaps telling in itself). I would therefore recommend against investing in the book.

This book changed my thinking for Performance Management metrics. The distinction between Key Performance Indicators, Performance Indicators and Key Result Indicators was a revelation that helped me target key information to the people who need it most.

The practical approach to developing metrics within an organization helps you quickly show results either within your own organization or with customers.

I highly recommend the book for anyone involved with Performance Management initiatives.

I found this book to be reasonably helpful. There are lists and lists of key performance indicators in the back of the book. There was one story in particular (won't give it away for all of you who want the book) that was particularly good and I have started sharing that example in my work (Six Sigma). All in all, I think I am looking for more of the "how to do it," which I found this book to be a little light on. . . . . .

Mr. Parmenter's book/manual helped me to better understand KPIs. The book offers a step-by-step process to help any organization set up KRIs, KPIs and PIs to allow top management to manage and employees to be empowered and to realize their effect on the organizations goals. Well worth reading! I'm hoping our organization will try this methodology and become a trend-setter in our industry.