What is inside

Start Here

Eight working rules for filling the sheets in, and a five-question checklist to run against every role before you finalise it.

Six worked role sheets

Production supervisor, welder, quality inspector, field sales executive, accounts and collections, and HR and admin manager — each with result areas, indicators and where the data comes from.

A blank sheet

The same structure, empty, for the roles specific to your organisation.

A data source column

The column most templates leave out, and the one that decides whether a system survives. Every measure has to be traceable to a record you already keep.

Sample rows from the workbook

These are the kind of entries the template contains. They are starting points to argue with, not a format to copy across every role.

Production supervisor

Key Result AreaKey Performance IndicatorSource of dataWhy it works
Line outputUnits per shift against planShift production sheetDirectly controlled by the role and already recorded
Line qualityIn-process rejection rateInspection logCounterweights output, so speed does not create rework
Equipment availabilityUnplanned downtime hoursDowntime bookCaptures the hidden cost behind an output number
Manning and capabilityManning vs roster; skill matrix coverageAttendance; skill matrixAbsence and skill gaps stop a line before anything else does
SafetyReportable incidents; PPE observationsSafety registerIndividually attributable and non negotiable

Welder

Key Result AreaKey Performance IndicatorSource of dataWhy it works
Workmanship qualityWeld rejections as a share of joints presentedInspection logMeasures what the role actually controls
ReworkRework hours as a share of hours bookedJob cardsShows the cost of quality, not just the rate
Throughput to standardJob cards closed within standard timeJob cardsBalances the two quality measures above

Field sales executive

Key Result AreaKey Performance IndicatorSource of dataWhy it works
RevenueValue achieved against targetSales MISThe outcome measure
CoverageProductive calls as a share of planned callsBeat plan or DSRThe leading activity behind the outcome
CollectionsOutstanding beyond agreed credit daysReceivables ageingRevenue is not revenue until it is collected
New businessNew accounts activated and repeat orderingSales MISPrevents the territory living off its existing base

Four rules that decide whether it works

  • 1 Only measure what the role can move. If someone can have an excellent month and still score badly because of a decision made three departments away, the measure is wrong.
  • 2 Only use data you already collect. A measure that needs a new register will be filled in for six weeks and abandoned by month three.
  • 3 Set measures in pairs. Output without a quality counterweight produces rework. Quality without a throughput counterweight produces missed dispatches.
  • 4 Do not attach money in the first cycle. Untested measures plus incentive pay produces gaming and grievances. Run one cycle, correct what the data exposes, then connect it to reward.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the template really free?

Yes. It downloads directly, with no email required. The judgement about which result areas fit your roles is the part that needs a conversation; the format itself is not worth gating.

What format is it in?

A Microsoft Excel workbook with eight sheets. It opens in Excel, Google Sheets, LibreOffice and Numbers.

Can I use one sheet for the whole company?

You can, but it is the most common way these exercises fail. Roles differ in what they control, so their result areas must differ. The workbook is built as one sheet per role for that reason.

How many result areas should each role have?

Four to six for most roles, up to seven for a supervisor. If your list runs past eight, the role has usually not been defined and the list is standing in for a decision nobody has made.

Should I put weightages against each item?

Yes, and concentrate them. Eight items at five per cent each guarantees none of them changes anyone's behaviour. Put weight where the role genuinely matters.

Can I edit and reuse it inside my company?

Yes. Use it, adapt it and circulate it internally as you wish.

The template is the easy part

Deciding which result areas genuinely fit your roles, and getting your managers able to run the reviews, is where these projects succeed or fail. If you are building this for a real organisation, it is worth a conversation.

Book a consultation Download the template

More on performance management

Case Study: 150-Employee Furniture Manufacturer

From people-dependent management to role clarity, KRA-based review and dashboard visibility. Kerala, 2023 to present.

Performance Management Consulting in Kerala

How a performance system is designed and implemented for a growing organisation, and what an engagement actually involves.

Kochi and Ernakulam

Multi-location retail, logistics, seafood export, IT services and manufacturing - where the measure should sit in each.

KRA and KPI Design

The difference between result areas and indicators, with worked examples for production, quality, sales, finance and HR roles.

Free KRA and KPI Template

An eight-sheet Excel workbook with worked result areas for six common roles, plus a blank template. No email required.