Which type of indicators are used in strategic performance dashboards to track progress?

• A. Random metrics not tied to strategy
• B. Only financial metrics
• C. Qualitative impressions only
• D. Leading and lagging indicators across four perspectives

Answer: (D)

Strategic performance dashboards track progress by using a mix of indicators that reflect both future drivers and actual results, organized across multiple perspectives. The best approach combines leading indicators, which anticipate what will influence future performance, and lagging indicators, which show what has already been achieved, across four perspectives that together cover both financial outcomes and the non-financial drivers of success. This balanced setup ensures the dashboard not only reports past performance but also signals where to act now to stay on strategy, spanning financial results, customer impact, internal processes, and learning and growth. Metrics that aren’t tied to strategy, or that rely only on financial or only on qualitative impressions, fail to provide a complete, actionable view of progress toward strategic goals.