# Choose the right metrics for a PMO portfolio dashboard

A focused set of portfolio and delivery metrics with definitions, data sources, thresholds, and the decisions each supports.

- Topic: Data & Analysis
- Framework: Few-Shot
- Level: Standard
- Tags: Data & Analytics, Plan, Fill-in Template
- Source: https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/prompts/choose-the-right-metrics-for-a-pmo-portfolio-dashboard

## Prompt

```text
Help me choose the metrics for our PMO portfolio dashboard.

**Who will use the dashboard:** [e.g. executive team monthly, project managers weekly]
**Decisions it should support:** [e.g. "which projects to fund, pause, or help", "where capacity is overloaded"]
**Number of projects in the portfolio:** [COUNT and typical size]
**Data we have:** [tools - e.g. Jira, MS Project, finance system, timesheets - and how reliable each is]
**Metrics we track today:** [LIST, if any]

Consider metrics across these areas, and recommend no more than 10-12 in total:
- Delivery: milestone hit rate, schedule variance, forecast accuracy, cycle time.
- Cost: budget vs. actual vs. forecast, CPI where earned value is used.
- Health: share of projects red/amber/green and how long they have been that color.
- Risk: open high risks, overdue mitigations, escalations.
- Capacity: resource utilization and over-allocation.
- Value: benefits forecast vs. realized, strategic alignment coverage.

For each recommended metric, give: definition and formula, data source, update frequency, thresholds for red/amber/green, owner, and the decision it informs. Drop any metric that does not change a decision.

Also warn me about: watermelon reporting (green outside, red inside), metrics that teams can game, and status colors that reflect opinion rather than defined criteria.

Return a metric table, a suggested dashboard layout (top-to-bottom), and a definition of red/amber/green that is objective enough to apply consistently.
```

## What to fill in

- e.g. executive team monthly, project managers weekly
- COUNT and typical size
- LIST, if any

Free to copy and use. From ThinkWithPrompt (https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/), a library of 2,663 curated AI prompts.