“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 in which it engages. “ (From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Performance_indicator, retrieved on May 5, 2016)
Every so often, we hear academics and politicians using the performance indicators to demonstrate the progress the country has made in tackling various problems. Without understanding what is KPIs and how they should be used; we can be easily misled. As defined in Wikipedia in the opening quote, KPI is a type of performance measurement. When there are too many parameters, a metric is devised to combine these parameters into a single indicator. Applied within reasons, the indicator is useful for benchmarking the relative state of the organization or activity over a period of time or with other organizations. They are in no way absolute.
