Metrics

In DoordaOnline, metrics are predefined calculations that standardise how key figures are computed across your organisation. By creating metrics, you ensure consistency and clarity in reporting and analysis. This guide will walk you through the creation, utilisation, and management of metrics within DoordaOnline.

What Are Metrics?

Metrics in DoordaOnline are saved aggregations based on your data tables, with or without filters applied. They serve as the official method for calculating important numbers, such as population or claimant counts, ensuring that everyone in your organisation refers to the same definitions. This standardisation prevents discrepancies that can arise from multiple interpretations of the same data.

Creating a Metric

To create a metric in DoordaOnline:

1. Initiate Metric Creation:

   • Click on the + New menu and select Metric.

2. Select Data Source:

   • Choose your starting data, which can be a model, table, or saved question.

3. Define the Metric:

   • Use the query builder to set up your metric. The metric editor resembles the regular query builder but includes:

     • Formula: Specify the aggregation or calculation for your metric.

     • Default Time Dimension: Optionally, set a default time dimension to group the metric by a specific time field.

4. Save the Metric:

   • After defining the metric, save it to an appropriate collection for easy access and organisation.

By following these steps, you create a standardised metric that can be reused across various analyses and reports.

Using Metrics

Once created, metrics can be utilised in multiple ways within DoordaOnline:

• In Queries:

  • When building a new question, you can select from common metrics in the summarisation section. This allows for quick and consistent calculations without redefining them each time.

• In Dashboards:

  • Metrics can be added to dashboards, enabling dynamic and interactive visualisations that update as underlying data changes.

• In Collections:

  • Organise and store metrics in collections, making them easily accessible to team members and ensuring consistent usage across the organisation.

By integrating metrics into your workflow, you promote uniformity and reliability in data analysis.

Managing Metrics

Effective management of metrics is crucial for maintaining their relevance and accuracy:

• Editing Metrics:

  • To modify an existing metric, navigate to the metric, click on the three-dot menu (…), and select Edit metric definition. Note that editing requires appropriate permissions within the collection.

• Verification:

  • In Pro and Enterprise plans, metrics can be marked as verified, signalling to users that they are approved and reliable for use in critical analyses.

Regularly reviewing and updating metrics ensures they remain aligned with organisational goals and data structures.

Best Practices

To maximise the effectiveness of metrics in DoordaOnline:

• Consistent Naming Conventions:

  • Adopt clear and descriptive names for metrics to facilitate easy identification and understanding.

• Comprehensive Descriptions:

  • Provide detailed descriptions for each metric, outlining its purpose, calculation method, and any relevant context.

• Regular Audits:

  • Periodically review metrics to ensure they are up-to-date and accurately reflect current business definitions and data.

By adhering to these best practices, you enhance the usability and reliability of metrics within your organisation.

In summary, metrics in DoordaOnline are powerful tools for standardising calculations and promoting consistency in data analysis. By effectively creating, utilising, and managing metrics, your organisation can ensure accurate and reliable reporting across all teams.