BI Home BI on Campus LSA KPI System

LSA Key Performance Indicators (KPI) System

Project Contact

If you have questions or would like more information, please contact Nick Hadwick (nickh@umich.edu) or Rob Wilke (rfw@umich.edu).

Project Description

The Web-based Key Performance Indicators (KPI) System enables LSA to generate meaningful information for use in strategic decision-making, management of daily operations and budget preparation.

Business Need

• Create a resource to inform daily operations, policy development and strategic decision-making.
• Enable resource allocation and guide the planning for staff and faculty hiring.
• Improve student services by providing staff and faculty with near real-time access to registration and course enrollment data.
• Transform large quantities of tabular data into meaningful graphics.

System/Application & Data Sources

The system draws data from the M-Pathways Financials, Student Administration and Human Resource Management Systems; the CRAS data set in the U-M Data Warehouse; and other institutional data sources.

Project Purpose, Scope, & Deliverables

• Web-based system with drill-down capability to replace a large, complex Excel spreadsheet. 
• Definitions and formulas for various ratios (for example: student credit hours/tenure track faculty member; number of staff/tenure track faculty member; number of graduate students enrolled/ number of graduate students accepted).
• Indicators and ratios, which can be applied longitudinally over 5-6 years for a single department or across multiple departments for a single year for comparison and reference.
• The following Business Intelligence initiatives incorporated in the KPI:
• Faculty Salary Comparision feature, which offers time-saving tools such as a menu of options, a “draw chart” button, and other graphic capabilities.
• Course Release System, an elaborate drill-down on a particular KPI, that provides information that can influence departmental behavior and policy discussions regarding cost-saving strategies.
• Course enrollment information enhancements, which includes new tools for analyzing actual registration, course enrollment, and waitlist data and comparing findings with enrollment targets.

Audience/Users

• College Executive Committee
• Department Chairs
• Directors
• Key Administrators

Project Sponsors/Partners

Rick Francis, LSA Associate Dean

Duration/Timeline

The KPI System is now in its second year of use, and it continues to evolve.