Ensure Data Consistency for KPIs Managed in BSC Designer

Set update intervals, manage evidence, and approvals, to ensure data consistency for performance indicators in the scorecard.

  • Update schedule (interval) for a KPI.
  • Behavior for dates when value is not specifically defined (data inheritance).
  • Definition of the grouping method (e.g., average, sum, max).
  • Sync evaluation criteria with a template.
  • Locking historical data to ensure data integrity and authorized access.
  • Approval workflow.
  • Manage evidence documents.

Update Interval

For any KPI on the scorecard an update interval can be adjusted:

  1. Select a KPI
  2. Click Values Editor
  3. Find Update interval type settings
  4. Select required update interval and click Close

Change the update interval that the software uses by default for the new indicators via menu Tools > Options > Default update interval.

Value Inheritance

Value inheritance defines whether the software will use previous values for the dates without data, or if it will use only specifically entered values.

To adjust inheritance settings:

  • Select an indicator
  • Click onto the Values Editor button on the toolbar
  • Use the Values inheritance option

Update default inheritance via Tools > Options > Default value inheritance.

Value inheritance can be limited by the indicator’s Start date and Deadline settings, available via the General tab > Edit button Edit.

Data Grouping

When displaying data aggregated by time periods, the software uses the grouping setting for an indicator.

To define data grouping:

  1. Select an indicator
  2. Click onto the Values Editor button on the toolbar
  3. Use the Group by drop list

Sync Metrics from Template

BSC Designer lets you create replicas that sync unidirectionally from a template item. Any changes to the template automatically apply to replicas, ensuring consistency.

Typical use case:

  • Evaluation scorecards where the same criteria assess multiple subjects.

To create a replica:

  1. Select and copy the template item (Tools > Copy).
  2. Paste it in the target location (Tools > Paste).
  3. In the dialog, select Paste & Keep Sync, then click the Paste button.
  4. Rename the replica and repeat these steps for additional replicas.

To create a replica of an entire scorecard from the scorecard view:

  1. Open the template scorecard.
  2. Select the Save as… command from the Tools menu.
  3. Select the Save and Keep Sync checkbox.

To create a replica of an entire scorecard from the strategy workplace:

  1. Select the template scorecard.
  2. Click the Manage button on the toolbar.
  3. Select the Destination where the replica should be created.
  4. Click Copy and Keep Sync.

Batch Modification of Indicators

To apply changes to multiple indicators in the scorecard:

  1. Select any indicator.
  2. Click the “Values Editor” button.
  3. Click the “Advanced” button below.
Advanced button in Values Editor

Select the type of modification needed from the options below:

  • "Delete dates for a period" will remove data for the selected indicator for the chosen period of dates.
  • "Set update interval" will change the update interval for the selected indicators.

To finalize the batch modification:

  • Select the period for the modification.
  • Select the indicators that should be modified.
  • Click OK to apply the changes.

An alternative approach to managing indicators in batches is by using AI functionality. Possible use cases include:

  • Importing unstructured data
  • Loading sample data into KPIs
  • Batch updating KPI values and targets

Locking Historical Data for Modification

To protect historical data from unauthorized modification, define the time period during which users with limited rights are allowed to input or edit data.

  1. Go to > Settings > Workflow.
  2. In the Historical Data section, configure the Days Before Current Date and Days After Current Date settings.

In the user settings, account administrators can toggle the Allow Change of the Historical Values option to control whether a user is allowed to modify historical values.

Approval Automation

Account administrators can enable the Approval required for entered data property in user settings to restrict user rights.

Entered data will appear next to the Value field on the Data tab:

  • Users with Approval required activated can rectify the entered data.
  • Users with sufficient rights can approve or reject the entered data.

Managing Evidence Documents

To confirm the correctness of a value entered for an indicator, you can upload supporting evidence documents.

To set up evidence required for an indicator:

  1. Select any indicator and switch to the General tab.
  2. Click the Edit button Edit button next to the Description field.
    3. Click Edit button to access advanced properties of KPI
  3. Use the controls in the Evidence requirements group to add new templates for evidence.
Set up an evidence template by describing the required evidence and its properties

An evidence template has the following properties:

  • Evidence to provide – a description of the expected evidence.
  • Scope – defines how the evidence template will be used. Date-specific evidence is shown as a template for each update interval, while Indicator-level evidence is applied to the indicator in general, without being tied to a specific date.
  • Required – specifies that evidence is obligatory to provide in order to report a value.

To upload indicator-specific evidence:

  1. Select an indicator and switch to the General tab of the indicator.
  2. Click the Attachment button Attachment button.
  3. Use the control to upload evidence.

To upload date-specific evidence for continuous tracking:

  1. Select an indicator and switch to the Data tab of the indicator.
  2. Select a date in the calendar.
  3. Click the Attachment button Attachment button to upload evidence.

Consider combining evidence uploads with the approval workflow.

Additional Tools

The platform provides additional tools to ensure data consistency and accountability.

Data Backup

  • A full backup of account data is available via > Settings > Backup.
  • A backup of a specific scorecard is available via the menu Tools > Export Data > Export as BSC (XML) file.

Audit Trail

  • A general audit trail is available via > Users > Audit trail.
  • An audit trail for specific items is available on the Context tab > History of changes.