Metric definition
A metric definition is the governed specification of a measure, its formula, source fields, filters, grain, owner and known limitations.
A metric is not its name. "Pipeline" is not a definition; a definition states which record types, which stages, which close-date window, which currency conversion, computed at which grain, from which system. Two dashboards that both say "pipeline" and disagree are usually both correct against their own unstated definitions.
Definitions need owners and version history for the same reason code does. When a definition changes, prior periods either get restated or get annotated, and a metric whose history has silently changed is worse than no metric, because it invites confident wrong conclusions.
Where it breaks
The same metric is implemented independently in the CRM, the BI tool and the board deck, and reconciliation is a quarterly ritual.
Related terms
- Semantic layer
- A semantic layer is the single place where metric definitions are implemented, so every dashboard and report derives from one implementation instead of restating it.
- Revenue data model
- The revenue data model is the set of objects, relationships and required fields that every revenue-facing process reads from and writes to.
- Change control
- Change control is the governed process for proposing, reviewing, releasing and recording modifications to the revenue system, its fields, definitions, automations and stage criteria.
- Single source of truth
- A source-of-truth designation names the authority for one object, field, event, artifact, role, or decision within a stated scope and effective period.
Field notes on this
- You just inherited RevOps. Start with a charter.
Being told to "own revenue operations" is not a mandate. Until authority is written down, every decision you make is reversible by whoever objects loudest.
- Why four teams report four different revenue numbers
A reconciliation problem may be definitional, technical, or both. Test the metric contract before buying another data platform.