KPI Selection Guide
The right KPIs tell a story. The wrong ones create confusion. Here's how to choose metrics that matter for your audience.
The #1 KPI Mistake
Showing everything instead of what matters. Executives don't want a data dump—they want insight. SlideStrike's AI helps prioritize, but you control what data goes in. Choose wisely.
KPIs by Audience
CEO / Board
Strategic outcomes & business impact
Include
- • ROI / Business Value Delivered
- • Strategic Initiative Progress
- • Portfolio Health Score
- • Resource Utilization (High Level)
- • Key Risk Summary
Avoid
- • Task-level details
- • Technical metrics
- • Individual performance data
CFO / Finance
Financial performance & cost control
Include
- • Budget vs Actual Spend
- • Cost Variance (CV)
- • Earned Value (EV)
- • Forecast at Completion (FAC)
- • Cash Flow Impact
Avoid
- • Non-financial milestones
- • Team productivity metrics
- • Technical debt items
VP / Director
Portfolio performance & resource allocation
Include
- • Project Health by Status
- • Schedule Performance Index (SPI)
- • Cost Performance Index (CPI)
- • Resource Allocation & Conflicts
- • Milestone Achievement Rate
Avoid
- • Individual task status
- • Daily activity logs
- • Technical implementation details
Project Team
Execution status & blockers
Include
- • Tasks Completed vs Planned
- • Sprint Velocity / Throughput
- • Blockers & Dependencies
- • Upcoming Deadlines
- • Quality Metrics (Bugs, Defects)
Avoid
- • High-level financial summaries
- • Strategic business metrics
- • Cross-portfolio comparisons
Universal Project KPIs
These metrics work across audiences—just adjust the level of detail:
Schedule
- • Schedule Variance (SV)
- • Schedule Performance Index (SPI)
- • Milestone Completion %
- • Critical Path Status
Cost
- • Budget Variance
- • Cost Performance Index (CPI)
- • Earned Value (EV)
- • Estimate at Completion (EAC)
Scope
- • Requirements Completion %
- • Scope Change Count
- • Deliverables Accepted
- • Defect Density
Risk
- • Open Risks Count
- • Risk Exposure ($)
- • Issues Resolved vs Open
- • Risk Trend (Improving/Worsening)
5-Step Selection Framework
Know Your Audience
Who will see this presentation? CEOs need strategy, PMs need execution details.
Define the Question
What decision does this presentation support? Lead with metrics that answer it.
Less is More
5-7 KPIs maximum. More dilutes impact and confuses the narrative.
Include Variance
Always show planned vs actual. Executives want to see the gap, not just the number.
Add Context
A number without context is meaningless. Include benchmarks, trends, or targets.
How SlideStrike Helps
SlideStrike's KPI Intelligence Engine automatically:
- • Identifies key metrics in your data
- • Calculates variances and trends
- • Compares against industry benchmarks
- • Generates strategic recommendations
- • Adapts presentation depth by stakeholder view
But it all starts with your data. Include the right KPIs, and SlideStrike amplifies their impact.
Ready to Present Your KPIs?
Now that you know which metrics matter, let SlideStrike transform them into executive-ready presentations.