Online Resources

You can find a ton of great Balanced Scorecard information on google.  For a more curated search, however, here are some links we recommend:

Basic Overviews

Frequently Asked Questions in PDF
2GC, a UK consulting firm, has put together a series of attractively formatted PDF files. Each one answers a common balanced scorecard question like, “What are the main benefits of a Balanced Scorecard?”

Balanced Scorecard Basics
This article by the Balanced Scorecard Institute is usually the first google search result, and with good reason!  It’s a well-worded explanation of basics behind balanced scorecards.

NetMBA Overview
This is another great Balanced Scorecard overview from NetMBA.  Not only does it cover the basics, but it also has friendly advice about the process of building a scorecard and the potential pitfalls.

Wikipedia History
Like many Wikipedia articles, this one gets a little bogged down in trivia.  There’s still enough solid information in there, however, to make it a worthwhile read.

Article: Balanced Scorecard Demonstrates IT Value
This one is an oldie but goodie.  It’s a CIO magazine article from 2002 that talks about the various successes different companies have had after implementing the balanced scorecard.

Article: Return on Investment Guide
This article is from Computerworld magazine in 2003.  It talks about the positives and negatives of balanced scorecards and includes an example scorecard from Southwest Airlines.

Choosing Metrics

Simple Framework for Selecting Measurements
Carter McNamara has written up a really good guide on how to select the correct measures.  There are quite a few confusing links on the top of the page, but if you scroll down, the content gets good starting with the question, “Where Do I Focus My Measurements in the Organization?”

Example KPIs and Metrics
Spider Strategies has put together list of several hundred example KPIs sorted by both department and industry.  There’s no information about how to choose good metrics, but it’s great for brainstorming and seeing what others are measuring. No login required.