ABSTRACT
Theories consist of distinguishable sets of assertions or postulates. Some of the assertions in a theory are laws. The parts of a theory are ontology, metatheory, laws, methodology which is interconnected by entailment relations. The Laws refer to the subject matter—the phenomena the theory is about and is supposed to explain; the 'things' that are identified, classified, and counted. While measurement is tightly linked to theory, metrics are tightly linked to policy and valuation. A consequence of the abrogation of responsibility—leaving the policy tacit—is the sponsor might end up hearing things they do not want to hear when measures and metrics are delivered. The purpose of metrics is to shape the world to match desired numbers. Metrics for cognitive work systems must be open to refinement and adaptation, even if the driving policies are stable or invariant. Metrics are thresholds or decision criteria that are used in an evaluation.
