A performance indicator or key performance indicator ( KPI ) is a
type of performance measurement. KPIs evaluate the success of an organization
or of a particular activity (such as projects, programs, products and other
initiatives) in which it engages. KPIs provide a focus for strategic and
operational improvement, create an analytical basis for decision making and
help focus attention on what matters most.
Often success is simply the repeated, periodic achievement of some levels of
operational goal (e.g. zero defects, 10/10 customer satisfaction), and
sometimes success is defined in terms of making progress toward strategic
goals.