Metrics - Post Them Now and Often

Nielsen's reporting of the Ten Best Government Intranet websites has some keen insight on the value of company intranets. I was particularly interested in the section about reporting metrics.

Displaying project metrics on the intranet is a great way to induce competition among various departments. Not only does it keep everyone on the same page, but departments with similar operational processes can have their efficiency measurements posted on the intranet so that each group can compare themselves with one another. It's a great way of ensuring accountability and improving productivity.

In larger organizations it's one of the most effective ways of reporting performance. Graphs that show improvement or deterioration in project or company performance are efficient ways of providing meaningful summaries to employees. In addition to just information, they can serve as fantastic supporting backup for mission statements and policy changes.

This is not just important for government services, but also for non-profit organizations and corporations. I think that each organization can get the most out of it by soliciting regular feedback from their employees.