An indicator is called any object or person who is in charge of showing, pointing out or describing the characteristics of an entity external to his person. In the same way, it can be defined as the series of data or information, concerning a certain aspect of importance, such as culture or the economy, where its current state can be evaluated and how it will evolve over time. In chemistry, acids and bases that are introduced into any substance are so called. And, by the action of ions, they are capable of changing color; This is generally applied in studies of various kinds, to observe the reactions to which substances are subjected
What is an indicator
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Taking into account the previous explanation, an indicator is understood as a series of starting or reference points that are made up of different data, numbers, information, measures and even opinions that open the way to the development of a study, evaluation or a specific process that is related to it.
It is also about the showing of something by means of a signal or a series of certain indications. For example, the word can be used in an economy issue: "The current salary of the country is an indicator that, economically, the territory is in deep decline."
In principle, it is difficult to understand what an indicator is due to the different sciences or disciplines that use it, this shows that it is a fairly general word, but with an important and unmistakable meaning in none of the disciplines that use it.
It is a reference point that provides qualitative or quantitative information, as the case may be, and that is made up of facts.
You can take the floor on various issues and your concept does not change, it does not matter if you are talking about a political, economic, quality indicators, mathematical or demographic indicators, in the end, it will always be a reference, signal or indication.
The indicators can even be physical, so that they can guide people to a destination or prevent them from doing something, for example, there are indicators on road signs, clocks (that indicate the time) etc. Every day the word indicator is used to talk about a reality that can stay that way or change.
Functions of an indicator
By providing valuable information in an investigation or conversation due to the relevance and reference it has with other topics or disciplines, the indicators have a specific function and that is to constitute a base or monitoring parameter to be able to evaluate the project from which they are speaks or of the one who is about to be executed, but also, correctly specify the objectives always in a precise and concise way, so that each one is enough to use it not once but several times. That is why it is necessary that the indicators be verified before using them regardless of the context or their type.
Characteristics of an indicator
No matter the topic or context in which it is applied, it will always have a series of characteristics that make it unique and that individualize it from the rest of the words. In addition, it must always be available, that is, it can provide data and collect it when it is most needed, so the need is imperative.
It also has to have simplicity, this means that its understanding is simple and that it can be defined in different ways according to the context. It is imperative that this is adaptable, so that it adjusts to the needs and variations of its use.
The stability is also part of the key features of the display and that is because there is a rationale in which can use the same parameters in the future. It must be traceable because the origin of that indicator has to be found, why it is mentioned or used, where it was used for the first time and how it was used.
Finally, it must have a level of representativeness and relevance, so that its validity is assessable and finally use it without any problem.
Elements of an indicator
Like any discipline or important subject, indicators also have elements, these make their conceptualization or definition specific and exact. It is not something complicated, much less extensive, simply a series of compounds that make the word indicator make sense and that can be used at different times according to the context, type and function.
The first element is the “what”, that is, what is the exact reference of the indicator, what is it talking about or what does it intend to link.
The second element is "who, who or what" are the numbers or community that is being debated.
"How much" is the other element that should be mentioned in this section and it is the numerical values that are involved in the subject in question, what is the parameter that is sought or that it has.
“When” refers to the exact moment in which that indicator will be used or was used, if it is a specific time period, a year or a day.
Finally, "where" and refers to the site or place in which the indicator is being used or will be used. Some of the elements can be omitted according to the context in which they will be used, generally the where and when.
Types of indicators
Every organization needs to have the measures of effectiveness, this is because if you do not have control or the measures of something, there is no opportunity to improve and, therefore, there is no evolution. Most companies and disciplines have different types of indicators that provide optimal benefits in terms of measurement and control, both of a company and in decision-making, mathematical accounts, etc.
The types of indicators go beyond examples such as health, Ph, chemistry or productivity indicators, they refer more to a business environment, however, it can be used in different topics.
Specific indicators
They provide data and information on certain situations, as well as their statistics in cases of the provision of a specific service. In itself, it is a numerical statistic, generally applied in censuses, forms, etc. Macroeconomic indicators could be mentioned as a direct example of this aspect.
Accumulated indicators
They are generally used in large companies to establish the strategies that must be followed according to the results of the accounting month, so that profits are increased and put aside the policies that did not favor them. With this, what is sought is to have a measure of the management indices in companies, that is, the so-called performance indicators.
Efficacy indicators
Its objective is to verify if the goals set by the company, person or discipline, according to the context, have been achieved in the period of time that has been stipulated with a previous index. It is a more quantitative than qualitative measurement because it compares previous achievements with those that were sought.
Efficiency indicators
It is about the productive measurement and the impact that costs have on the production of services or goods of a company, of course, this in a business environment. They graph or show the scope of numbers, products or a specific brand.
Indicators of effectiveness
It is based on the ability to transform all the weaknesses of a company into strengths that allow it to improve its efficiency and effectiveness. It seeks innovation and satisfies the needs of the client or person according to the context in which it is used.
Planning indicators
The difference seen between what was planned and what was executed is measured. It is an active means of comparison between one topic and another, even between numbers, equations, politics or medicine. These are important in all areas, precisely because, thanks to the comparisons, the potentiality of the subject increases, and there is a way to overcome the competition.
Quality indicators
They are simply the convincing proof that the data, elements or compounds provided are valid and reliable, not only at the business level, but also at a general level.
"> Loading…Examples of indicators
As mentioned throughout this content, an indicator is the comparison between one or more data, this originates a result or a specific value whose meaning is understandable for the person in charge of the analysis.
These can be used in an endless number of areas, there is not one that takes it as their own, so its use has a fairly long scope. One of the most feasible examples to mention are the percentage indicators, as well as the usual indicators such as unemployment, informality or activity rates.
In addition, as already mentioned, they can be used for different purposes, for example, management indicators are used to have a fixed monitoring of the activities and inputs of a company. These measures the number of computers available to employees, active employees in the company, general staff (not only administrative but also worker) and hours of work. Another feasible example in this section are those of product or result, which measure or establish the relationship between the goods and the services originated by the training actions.
The result indicators are in charge of measuring the training quotas that have been created, the variables in the designs of the developed curricula, the variability in the regulations of the competences, the variation in the total number of teachers available for the training or training and the number of hours available for training.
Another example are the impact indicators, which show the change that is expected after the training or training given. These changes are expressed in certain periods of time, it can be short, medium or long term, it all depends on the effectiveness of the content taught.
The impact indicators measure the variation in income, the various employment situations, the notable increase in productivity in training, in the case of work accidents, their decrease or increase, and improvements in the area. of health, the rates of return of the entire staff according to the invested unit and the overall return, also from the invested unit approach.
