ABSTRACT
There are three reasons why there is a tendency to measure what we have measured in the past. First, we want to maintain meaningful comparisons with history. The premise is that even if we know a measure isn’t perfect, at least we can see if it changed, and maybe that change will highlight something we should know. The reality is that if a measure is not already meaningful, then a historical trend won’t make it more meaningful. The second reason is that we have always measured it this way, and we trust that the person who established the measure did so for a good reason. The truth is that processes change over time, and what may have been a reasonable indicator in the past may no longer fit the bill. Finally, we are reluctant to change measurements because there is a cost to change. It takes time and effort to determine the best measurements, establish tracking mechanisms, and implement change. Users of the information need to understand the reasons for the change and how to interpret and use the improved information.
