Defining indicators and reports
Summarize
Summary of Defining Indicators and Reports
This section focuses on the configuration of indicators and reports within ServiceNow's Performance Analytics using the KPI Composer. It guides users in linking artifacts defined during analysis to their respective indicator and report definitions, facilitating better performance tracking and reporting.
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Key Features
- KPI Tree Structure: The Data Definition tab displays a KPI tree similar to the Analysis tab, minus certain headers and footers.
- Artifact Linking: Artifacts associated with Performance Analytics widgets must reference indicator definitions for dashboard widgets and report definitions for reporting widgets. Each artifact can link to both types.
- Definition Management: Missing definitions are indicated with a clickable plus sign, allowing users to create them easily. Users can filter artifacts to identify those lacking definitions.
- Filtering Options: Users can filter artifacts by name, by the need for definitions, or by linked indicators.
- Indicator and Report Definitions: These define how to develop specific Performance Analytics indicators and reports, including necessary conditions and properties.
Key Outcomes
By utilizing the Data Definition tab, ServiceNow customers can effectively link artifacts to performance metrics and reporting structures, ensuring comprehensive data tracking and reporting. This process enables users to identify gaps in definitions quickly and streamline the creation of new indicators and reports directly from the relevant artifacts. As a result, customers can enhance their business process analysis and optimize performance analytics within their organization.
On the KPI Composer Data Definition tab, you further specify the artifacts you defined during analysis and link them to indicator and report definitions.
After you open the Data Definition tab, you see the same KPI tree that you defined in the Analysis tab. The header with personas and breakdown definitions and the footer with new artifacts are gone.
Each artifact that is associated with a Performance Analytics widget on the Dashboard Visualization
should reference an indicator definition. Each artifact that is associated with a Reporting widget should reference a report definition. An artifact can be associated
with both an indicator and a report definition. If a definition is missing, a clickable plus sign
+ appears with a message to create the definition. If the artifact is linked to any definitions,
there is a hyperlink to open each definition. You can quickly get
an overview of which artifacts are missing definitions by filtering on Create
definition. 
The following illustration shows a measurement artifact that needs both a report and an indicator definition. An artifact definition named "% changes closed within SLA" is linked. The artifact still needs a report definition.
Filtering
- Filter by name, for filtering by one or more words that appear in the artifact name
- Filter by task
- Create definition, for filtering by whether an indicator or report definition is needed
- Link PA Indicator, for filtering by artifacts with indicator definitions that are not linked to Performance Analytics indicators
Indicator definitions
An indicator definition contains the description of how to develop a specific Performance Analytics indicator. The indicator definition itself is not a Performance Analytics indicator. The indicator definition bridges the function-oriented artifact in the KPI tree and the technical implementation of the indicator in Performance Analytics.
If a suitable indicator definition does not exist, click the create indicator definition link in the artifact tile. Specify the required properties of the indicator. Also write any development instructions in the field provided for them. If you are defining an automated indicator, specify the facts table for the indicator source. Also describe any conditions, either on the indicator itself or on the indicator source. You can describe the conditions qualitatively, not following condition builder format. If you are defining a formula indicator, add definitions of its contributing indicators.
When a suitable Performance Analytics indicator exists, you can add a link to it in the indicator definition. You can see the technical details of the linked indicator. Reproduce the Performance Analytics indicator exactly or specify a modified version.
Report definitions
A report definition contains the description to create a report. The key information is the facts table or the report source, along with any conditions. You do not have to follow a technical format when writing the conditions.