If a metric specifies the outcomes to be achieved, it is best described as a KGI rather than a KPI. Which option reflects this idea?

• A. KPI
• B. KGI
• C. ROI analysis
• D. Process metric

Answer: (B)

The idea being tested is the difference between outcome-focused indicators and performance indicators. A metric that specifies the end result to be achieved is describing a goal or objective, not just how well a process performs. That makes it a Key Goal Indicator, which is used to measure whether strategic goals and desired outcomes are reached.

A KPI, by contrast, measures performance of activities or processes that contribute to those goals—like throughput, cycle time, or defect rate. ROI analysis is a financial evaluation of return, not a direct measure of goal achievement. A process metric tracks how a process performs, not the ultimate outcome. So when the metric centers on the end result to be achieved, it aligns with a Key Goal Indicator.