An incremental metric reports only new values within each period, such as net new monthly sales. Comparing periods directly reveals fluctuations and changes in performance that can guide action. section 7.3.1
Use an incremental view alongside a cumulative metric when stakeholders need both current progress and the rate at which performance is changing. A cumulative total can continue rising while incremental growth declines, hiding an important trend. section 7.3.1 section 7.4
Choose the representation that matches the decision:
- Use incremental values to compare activity between periods and detect changes in performance. section 7.3.1
- Use cumulative values to show total progress, current organizational state, or overall growth. section 7.3.1
- Pair both views when the total is growing but the growth rate may be slowing. section 7.3.1
- Set the metric’s grain carefully: too little detail can obscure accountability, while excessive detail can confuse stakeholders. section 7.4
Tracking customer growth
A monthly cumulative user count shows the size and overall trajectory of the user base. Adding monthly new users or the percentage change in total customers exposes whether growth is accelerating or slowing. section 7.3.1
