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Introduction - Functions Overview - Purchase
Program
What are External Scorecards?
- Import and export from and to BSC files is supported in the
PRO version only
- Check the latest version of online guide for using
Imported Indicators
With BSC Designer, one can work with external .bsc files created
with BSC Designer. The following features are supported:
- The external scorecard file can be stored locally or on a local
network;
- The external scorecard file can be placed on a web or FTP server;
- You can run scripts before importing from a local
scorecard.
When selecting the external .bsc file, the program reads the
available indicators and groups, so that the user can then link the
particular indicator or group into his own scorecard.
- Linking is not static; BSC Designer tries to read values from
the external file every time the user opens his scorecard.
- A user cannot change the imported values in his scorecard, he
can only change the weight of imported values.
- When linking to an external scorecard, time points are also supported.
- As BSC Designer can run external programs before importing,
this external program can modify the scorecard in any way and fill
in the imported scorecard with necessary data.
How to link your scorecard to an external
scorecard?
Follow these simple steps:
- Select the group that will be the parent for the imported
indicator
- Select the "Import Indicator" option from the Edit menu
- If you wish to link to the local file, select the "From file"
tab;if you wish to link to a file located on a server, select HTTP.
If you are connecting to a file located online, you might need the
help of your system administrator. Don't forget to add BSC Designer
to the list of approved applications in your firewall. Right now
you can try connecting to an external scorecard on our server, at
the URL
http://www.strategy2act.com/support/sample_scorecard.bsc.
- Then you should click the "Select" button and select the name
of the indicator to be imported.
- Once you click OK, you will see the name of the new indicator
in the Balanced Scorecard tree, and you can change its local name
and weight.
Integration by independent
developers
Independent developers can create applications which will help
to integrate scorecards with any business solution.
The designed software could create an application that analyzes
passed parameters and, depending on users' requirements, create a
.bsc file with data to import.
Check the list of possible parameters in the hint text of the
Parameters text box:
- %indicator_name% - this is the name of the indicator in the
"parent" scorecard, which initiates importing
- %project_name% - this is the .bsc project name
- %imported_indicator_name% - this is the original name of the
indicator in the "child" scorecard, i.e., the scorecard which is
the source of the imported data.
The following scheme shows how BSC Designer can be integrated
with other applications:
- A software developer can create a program which reads passed
parameters (such as the "name of an indicator") and as a result
creates a simple .bsc file (the .bsc file is in XML format, which
is accessible to third-party developers).
- The user in BSC Designer selects "Run script before import" and
specifies the application and the necessary parameters, for
instance "script.exe %indicator_name%"
As a result, the program will run the script before reading
data, and the script will create the necessary information to read
and pass it to the user's scorecard.
Sometime it is a good idea to develop a script and use the
described scheme, but it is also possible to import data using
SQL indicators.
Why is linking to an external Balanced
Scorecard important?
It is a very simple way to link several scorecards in one main
scorecard. For instance, your financial director might be in charge
of developing financial indicators, your HR manager might be
responsible for HR-related matters, etc. You as a CEO can put
together several scorecards by getting indicators and their values
from different sources. This idea is also called "cascading
scorecards."
Additionally, using an external script or SQL indicators one can
integrate a balanced scorecard with almost any business system,
such as ERP or CRM.
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