Performance Analytics terms
Performance Analytics uses terms and concepts that can differ from industry norms due to the unique nature of the ServiceNow platform.
automated breakdown
Automated breakdowns are based on a breakdown source, which is a set of records from a table. The breakdown maps these records, known as breakdown elements, with fields on tables that indicators collect scores from. Scores
collected from mapped tables can then be grouped and filtered based on the values in the mapped fields and the breakdown elements.
automated indicator
An automated indicator uses an indicator source as its data set. The indicator source specifies a table or database view, conditions for filtering records from that source, and the frequency at which you expect to display the
data. The indicator applies an aggregator and optional conditions to this data. The indicator also specifies a data collection job and any breakdowns to apply.
breakdown
A grouping or a filter of indicator scores that is based on a qualitative attribute such as Priority, Category, or Assignment Group.
breakdown element
The values for a breakdown. For example, the Priority breakdown may have the elements Critical, High, and Low.
breakdown mapping
A breakdown mapping specifies the relationships between breakdowns and indicator sources. A breakdown mapping references either a field on the indicator source or a script that queries the indicator source.
breakdown source
A set of records from a table or database view that constitute the unique values, or breakdown elements, of a breakdown source. Can be a bucket group. Multiple breakdowns can use the same breakdown source.
bucket group
Gathers continuous data into discrete groups when there is no table field that can serve as breakdown elements. For example, a bucket group might take differences between timestamps and divide them up into hourly
periods.
contributing indicator
An indicator that is used in the formula of a formula indicator. A contributing indicator can be an automated or a formula indicator.
database view
A database view defines table joins for reporting purposes.
For example, a database view can join the Incident table to the Metric Definition table. This view can be used for an indicator source.
data collector, data collection job
A scheduled job that collects data from one or more indicator sources to produce indicator scores.
data snapshots
An alternative architecture for indicators. This architecture uses a change data capture (CDC) process, which captures data changes from configurable tables that are optimized for generating scores and time series at run-time.
Data snapshots avoid the need for breakdown matrices, allowing unlimited breakdowns.
formula indicator
Produces a computed indicator score from one or more other indicators. Besides indicator scores, the formula can include calculations such as the gap between an indicator score and the indicator target.
indicator (KPI)
A performance measurement taken at regular intervals of a business service, an activity, or organizational behavior. These performance measurements result in a series of indicator scores over
time.
Businesses track these scores to measure current conditions and to forecast trends.
indicator score
The value of an indicator for a specific collection period. For automated indicators, this value is calculated in a data collection job. For formula indicators, this value is calculated by performing operations on multiple
automated indicators.
indicator source
Defines sets of records from a ServiceNow table or database view that have a common characteristic, for example, that the Priority field value is critical. Indicators use indicator sources to calculate scores. Indicator scores
are KPI values. Indicator sources specify a table, filtering conditions, and the frequency for collecting data.
KPI
KPI can be a synonym for indicator, or it can refer to a unique combination of an indicator with specific breakdown elements.
manual breakdown
In a manual breakdown, you define the breakdown elements and the indicator scores for each element manually instead of using records from a breakdown source.
manual indicator
Manual indicators are not associated with an indicator source. Scores for manual indicators are not generated automatically by a data collection job. Instead, populate these indicators by adding scores to the scoresheet
manually.
snapshot
A list of table records (sys_ids) that are collected at the time that the indicator scores for those records are collected.
target
Future hoped-for indicator scores that represent goals your organization wants to achieve. A target can be global or can be personal to one user.
threshold
The user-defined top or bottom limit of the normal range of scores for an indicator. You can set up an alert to inform you when a threshold is breached and how, such as when a score reaches an all-time high or low.