A recent review of lab results in my patient portal included 17 colorfully illustrated data charts – the literal KPIs (key performance indicators) of the state of my health – conveniently stacked for interpretation and ease of use. Nice, right? But as I scrolled I found myself wondering: Which of these are most significant, and why?
The answer to those questions is not simply “gather more data;” there’s no shortage of information at our fingertips. Interpretation and discernment must be brought to bear: The capacity to identify and agree on what data are most important – and why – opens the way to understanding and good decision-making.
The In Trust Center has been engaged with this topic for over a decade; we have refined our guidance to keep pace with the explosion of data and the advent of powerful AI tools that have exponentially expanded the capacity to mine – and interpret – data.
Our early advice on how to use the dashboard still holds today: When it comes to data, particularly KPIs, be clear about what you are measuring or tracking, and why you are tracking it. Start small and be specific. Focus on what’s mission-critical. Understand the origin of your data, and ensure it’s objective. Include the whole community.
In a sea of information one of the hardest decisions is to let go of those data points that don’t directly speak to mission fulfillment and reflect what we care about most. Consider this and other big questions as you read Lessons (Being) Learned (p.16). Institutional KPIs should be linked to priorities and goals, and easily tracked by a school’s community, including their boards. Think one-pager, not a 20-page report.
The same holds true when considering board self-assessment, as Rebekah Basinger reminds us in Small Can Be Large (p.14). Start small, she advises. Spread out the work. Celebrate accomplishments and lean into full participation to advance your school.
Sounds easy enough. And yet the ground is constantly shifting as the regulatory climate exerts continuous pressure on higher education, challenging us to clarify our KPIs, revisit and double down on our theological foundations and histories, and reconfirm our missions (Moving the Pieces, Changing the Board, p.5). Now is the perfect time to get clear about what we count – and why we count it.
What are you counting? Let me know what your top KPIs are.
Amy L. Kardash, President
