For years, doctors and health officials have been telling us that we should be getting at least 10,000 steps a day. However, with the advent of wearable technology, we are now able to see just how many steps we are taking—and whether or not we are reaching the 10,000-step goal. In fact, a recent study conducted in the United Arab Emirates shows that those who use a smart watch to track their steps are more likely to achieve the 10,000-step goal than those who do not.

The UAE Smart Watch Study

The study, which was conducted by the Ministry of Health and Prevention and financed by the Emirates Foundation, had 1,600 participants from across the UAE. The participants were divided into two groups: those who received a smart watch and those who did not. The group that received the smart watch were also given step-counting goals to reach each day, while the other group was not given any specific goals. After two months, the results were clear: those who received the smart watch and had step-counting goals were significantly more likely to hit the 10,000-step mark than those who did not have a smart watch or specific goals. In fact, 70 percent of those in the goal-setting group achieved their daily step targets, compared to just 40 percent of those in the non-goal-setting group.

Why is this study important?

This study is important because it demonstrates the power of digitally measuring & displaying the data in promoting a behavior change.

Taking this simple example of changing behavior by using smart watch data, simplifying it (number of steps), and displaying it digitally had a profound effect. Let us take this scenario and replicate it for governments and business. 

The way we work has changed drastically over the past few years. The traditional 9-5 office job is no longer the norm, and more and more employees work remotely. With this shift comes the need for new ways to measure employee performance. In today’s fast-paced, technology-driven world, it’s more important than ever for governments & organizations to adopt digital agile performance measurement systems. 

A digital agile performance measurement system is a platform that can be used to measure an organization’s success in real time down to the individual level and see his or her output on a granular level minute by minute. This type of systems can help government officials or business leaders to make better decisions and it is the continuous driver of employee behavior towards achieving targets just like the number of steps in a smart watch.

The 3 Metrics for All: Speed, Quality & Quantity

With the rise of digital tools and data analytics, it is now possible to measure employee performance in real-time using live data metrics such as Speed, Quality and Quantity. All metrics can be digitally measured and tracked in addition to being visually managed and displayed for the personnel and the management to view and take action on the fly.

In my opinion and based on 2.5 years of hands-on experience of imposing these 3 aggregate KPIs at the ICT Fund they have worked for all types of employees, tasks and projects. The change in employee performance and behavior is profound and should be a prime example of a case study for other public sector policy makers.

A business without metrics is like a ship without a compass- it’s bound to get lost.

Employee KPIs are a necessary part of any business operation. By tracking these metrics, governments and businesses can identify areas where employees are excel and where they need improvement. Additionally, employee KPIs can help to set expectations and hold employees accountable for their performance. Without these measures in place, it would be difficult to manage employee productivity and monitor the success of operations. In short, if you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it – making employee KPIs an essential part of any successful organization. Thinking otherwise you are just kidding yourselves.

Here are three reasons why this is important:

Accurate measurements lead to better decision making. 

In order for government officials & business leaders to make informed decisions about where to allocate resources and how to improve employee productivity, they need accurate data. Output-based metrics can be helpful, but they often don’t paint the whole picture. For example, if an employee is meeting their quotas for the number of files processed per day, that doesn’t necessarily mean they are working efficiently or effectively. But if you’re able to see how long it takes them to complete each task using live data metrics, you can get a much better understanding of their individual productivity and identify areas where improvements can be made.

Real-time measurements allow for more timely interventions. 

Another advantage of using live data metrics is that they can help you identify problem areas before they become too big to ignore. If you’re only measuring employee productivity on a monthly or quarterly basis, it can be difficult to spot small fluctuations that could indicate a bigger issue. But if you’re measuring employee productivity in real-time, you can address problems as they arise and prevent them from becoming major roadblocks down the line.

Live data metrics help create a culture of accountability. 

When employees know that their performance is being measured in real-time, they are more likely to take ownership of their work and be held accountable for their results. This creates a culture of accountability and continuous improvement which can benefit both the government or business and the employees themselves. Furthermore, when employees feel like their hard work is being recognized and valued, they are more likely to be motivated and engaged in their work which leads to even better results. 

Why Governments should make it Compulsory

Government officials especially in the UAE in any department or any business as well should consider adopting a digital agile performance measurement system for the following reasons: 

1. To keep up with the competition. There are many other countries who have already adopted similar systems, and the UAE cannot afford to fall behind. 
2. To increase transparency and accountability. A digital agile performance measurement system will allow government officials to track progress and ensure that public funds are being spent wisely. 
3. To improve communication between different government departments. By having all data in one place, decision-makers will be able to see the “big picture” and make informed decisions. 
4. To reduce costs. A digital agile performance measurement system can help save money by streamlining processes and reducing redundancies. 
5. To attract and retain talent. The best and brightest minds will be attracted to work for an organization that is committed to innovation and continuous improvement. 
6. To improve service delivery. A digital agile performance measurement system can help government officials identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies in service delivery so that they can be fixed quickly and effectively. 
7. To increase citizen satisfaction. When citizens can see that their government is using cutting-edge technology to deliver results efficiently, they will be more satisfied with the overall level of service they receive from their government. 
8. To create a culture of continuous learning and improvement. A digital agile performance measurement system can help instill a culture of learning and continuous improvement within an organization by providing employees with feedback on their performance in real time. 
9. To encourage innovation. A digital agile performance measurement system can help identify areas where innovation is needed so that new ideas can be quickly implemented into practice.
10. To prepare for the future. A digital agile performance measurement system is an essential part of preparing for the future, as it will help UAE officials stay ahead of the curve and anticipate changes in the marketplace before they happen giving the UAE a competitive edge on the global stage.

There are many reasons why businesses and governments especially should use live data metrics to measure employee performance in a digital era. Accurate measurements lead to better decision making, real-time measurements allow for more timely interventions, and live data metrics help create a culture of accountability which benefits both the organization and employees alike. If your government department is not already using live data metrics to measure employee performance, now is the time to start reaping the benefits of this important tool.

I close this article with the imaginary scenario of having three young government employees in their mid-20s at a Dubai coffee shop each boasting about their KPIs of Speed of Delivery of Work, Quality of Submitted Work and Quantity of Work on their Smart Watches.

• The UAE Smart Watch Study showed that those who used a smart watch to track their steps were more likely to achieve the 10,000-step goal than those who did not.
• The study is important because it demonstrates the profound power of digitally measuring & displaying the data in promoting a behavior change.
• A digital agile performance measurement system is a platform that can be used to measure an organization’s success in real time down to the individual level and see his or her output on a granular level minute by minute. 
• Speed, Quality and Quantity are all metrics that can be measured and displayed digitally which would help manage employee productivity and monitor the success of business operations. 
• Without these measures in place, it would be difficult to manage employee productivity and monitor the success of the business or government otherwise you are kidding yourself.

For more articles like this by ‘Subscribe’ to Omar’s Newsletter on Linkedin or visit his website www.theintellect.ae for articles by other writers as well.

Management