Guides
Alignment of Metrics & Intent
14 free guides in this category.
Guides in this category.
Quantitative-Qualitative Balance
The skill of combining numerical data with human insights to make more complete, confident decisions.
Read guideCampbell's Law
The principle that using a single social indicator for decision-making corrupts the indicator, as people start optimizing for the metric itself instead of the original goal.
Read guideChoosing Effective Metrics
Selecting measures that accurately reflect progress toward your actual goals, avoiding the trap of optimizing what's easy to measure instead of what matters.
Read guideGoodhart's Law
When a measure becomes a target, it stops being a good measure—people naturally optimize for the metric rather than the underlying goal.
Read guideMetric Auditing
A systematic process for evaluating whether your performance measures actually reflect your goals or incentivize unintended behavior.
Read guideLeading vs. Lagging Indicators
Distinguishing between metrics that predict future outcomes (leading) and those that measure past results (lagging) to make better decisions.
Read guidePerverse Incentives
When a reward system creates an unintended and undesirable outcome that is contrary to its original goal.
Read guideSecond-Order Effects of Metrics
The unintended and often harmful consequences that arise when people optimize for measured metrics rather than intended goals, causing the metric to lose its value as a guide.
Read guideCobra Effect
When an incentive designed to solve a problem actually makes it worse because people game the system.
Read guideProxy Metrics
When we measure substitutes instead of what truly matters, we risk optimizing for the wrong outcomes.
Read guideThe McNamara Fallacy
The mistake of relying solely on quantitative metrics for decisions while ignoring important qualitative factors.
Read guideThe OKR Framework
A goal-setting framework that connects ambitious objectives with measurable results to drive focus, alignment, and transparency.
Read guideUsing Counter-Metrics
Pair a primary metric with a 'counter-metric' to prevent unintended negative consequences and maintain strategic balance.
Read guideVanity vs. Actionable Metrics
Distinguish between metrics that look impressive and those that inform specific actions to drive real progress.
Read guide