Performance Metrics in Modern Journals
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Transcript of Performance Metrics in Modern Journals
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Performance Metrics in Modern Journals
Benjamin LynchCo-Editor-in-Chief, Virginia Policy Review
Agenda
Performance Metrics Types of Indicators Five Steps to Successful Performance Metrics Work Time Questions
What are Performance Metrics?
Performance metric – a measurement that determines behavior or performance
Performance Metrics Track Progress
Why are performance metrics important? Track successes and failures Guide strategic planning Identify opportunities for short-term intervention Provide benchmark information to measure effect of
organizational changes
Many types of Indicators
Types of Key Performance Indicators: Speed Accuracy Volume Investment
Can be internal and external Can be quantitative and qualitative
Speed Indicators
Response With authors and with staff
Turn around Editorial process Project completion Meeting scheduled time
Accuracy Indicators
For readership: Focus groups Reader surveys Website comments Opinions of editorial staff and policy school
colleagues Independent third-party analysis
E.g., Hiring a professional copy editor to review publication
Volume Indicators
Number of submissions Number of acceptance pieces Number of subscriptions sold Website:
Total page views Length of page view
Investment Indicators
Measures spending levels or % of budget spent on each activity E.g., per event, per issue, per staff member, etc.,
IMPORTANT: Justification to school that your journal needs more money.
Five Steps to Effective Performance Metrics*
Objective: Develop at least two (2) metrics that can be used starting when you return to school on Tuesday.
*From Capilano University’s Open CourseWare’s Course on Introduction to Strategic Management found here.
1. Define Desired Outcome
Outcome should be a non-quantified goal. Desired outcomes should be established for both
journal-level inputs and outputs.
Example: Input: VPR wants to increase the number of submissions. Output: VPR wants to publish a journal that is read by
more people.
Alignment is important
Outcome
2. Develop Output Measure
For each goal, develop a metric to measure the output of that goal. Establish a target benchmark of success.
The metric does not have to be quantified. Example:
Quantitative: VPR will increase submissions by 10%. Qualitative: VPR will be rated better or higher using the
following system: Poor – Fair – Good – Better – Best
Alignment is important
Output Outcome
3. Develop Input
Regardless of whether a goal is an input or output goal, there is generally a step before that that can be measured. Set a benchmark to measure your success.
IMPORTANT: Establishes a chain of data that identifies where breakdowns occur.
Example: Each VPR editor will email 25 people in their personal call for
submissions. Each VPR editor will post and tweet the link to the new article on
Facebook and Twitter, respectively.
Alignment is important
Input Output Outcome
4. Measure and Test
Use Measurement to Initiative Change Establish a formal system of tracking data. Regularly review the data. Construct a process for using data. Celebrate successes. Isolate areas that cause failure.
If you have existing data, try to use it to evaluate whether your metrics will measure your desired goals.
Performance Metric Dashboard
5. Build Organizational Culture
Good organizations use data, but improvement does not happen on paper.
Strategies: positive performance incentives, all-staff data entry/analysis sessions, data presentations to faculty, State-of-the-journal address, etc.
Improvement can occur when people enjoy what they’re doing, know it’s important, and general morale is high.
Work Time
Objective: Develop at least two (2) metrics that can be used starting
when you return to school on Tuesday. IF you already have effective metrics, plan strategies to
build a culture that will continue to use performance metrics after you leave your editorial staff.
Time: 10-15 minutes After, we’ll reconvene for group sharing and questions.
Developing Metrics Template
Categories
Input Output Outcome
Range Key
Submissions Increase outreach on Facebook. Specifically, 10 posts a week.
Number of submissions
20 (5 more than the number of submissions for the last issue)
- 17- 20+: No action- 13-16: Monitor - 12 or below: Immediate Action
Strategies to use data:
Questions