System for defining key performance indicators

1. A system comprising:

a processing unit; and

a memory storage unit, storing:

a database having multiple tables with columns containing information regarding hardware and software in an organization;

a database application for executing queries against the database; and

an externalized data structure stored on the system that provides a user modifiable set of key performance indicators covering the hardware and software in an organization, facilitating selection of database tables and queries against the tables to provide multiple levels of viewable key performance indicators to users without having to recompile the database application upon modification of the set of key performance indicators.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the externalized data structure comprises a definitions table for specifying attributes for display of KPI metrics for each of the multiple levels of viewable key performance indicators.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the definitions table further specifies threshold alerts and custom bar or line graphs.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the definitions table comprises a name that uniquely identifies a key performance indicator and associated level attributes.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein the definitions table comprises a query that defines a key performance indicator count for each key performance indicator.

6. The system of claim 2 wherein the externalized data structure further comprises for each key performance indicator, a definition in the definitions table, a corresponding taxonomy map, a category definition and a detail view map.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the taxonomy map identifies a category and table definitions and a correlation between category taxonomies and table column definitions for each key performance indicator.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the category definition specifies logical groupings of related key performance indicators and available taxonomies for each grouping.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the externalized data structure further comprises a raw database table definition for each key performance indicator for use via the taxonomy map.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein the detail view map provides for each key performance indicator, detail view attributes and corresponding table columns to be displayed for a detailed view of data corresponding to key performance indicators.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the externalized data structure comprises multiple XML files.

12. A method comprising:

providing a first level external interface that facilitates user interaction to define high level count based key performance indicator data;

providing a second level external interface that facilitates user interaction to define taxonomy filters applicable to the high level count data; and

providing a third level external interface that facilitates user interaction to select detail from the filtered high level key performance indicator data, wherein the user interaction does not result in recompilation of a key performance indicator data application.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the external interfaces comprise XML files.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the XML files define queries for execution by the key performance indicator data application.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the XML files define relational tables from which to extract key performance indicator data.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the XML files comprise a definitions table, a taxonomy maps table, a categories table and a detail view maps table.

17. The method of claim 16 and further comprising an XML file that provides a raw database table definition for each key performance indicator for use via the taxonomy map.

18. A machine readable medium having instructions for execution by a machine to perform a method comprising:

providing a first level external interface that facilitates user interaction to define high level count based key performance indicator data;

providing a second level external interface that facilitates user interaction to define filters applicable to the high level count data; and

providing a third level external interface that facilitates user interaction to select detail from the filtered high level key performance indicator data, wherein the user interaction does not result in recompilation of a key performance indicator data application.

19. The machine readable medium of claim 18 wherein the external interfaces comprise XML files.

20. The machine readable medium of claim 19 wherein the XML files define queries for execution by the key performance indicator data application.