Signal Type Taxonomy

Every metric in the GASP Standard is classified into one of four signal types. This answers a fundamental question: "What kind of metric is this?"

Why Signal Types Matter

Dashboard design: Outcomes go on the executive summary; operational metrics go on team dashboards.
Target setting: Set targets on outcomes, not on operational metrics. Track leading indicators to predict misses early.
Root cause analysis: When an outcome misses, look at its leading indicators and the operational metrics that feed them.

Outcome

68 metrics

A result you set targets for. If this misses, someone has a hard conversation.

Test: "Is there a target on this in a board deck or comp plan?"

Leading

36 metrics

A signal that predicts an outcome before it materializes. Changing this today changes an outcome next quarter.

Test: "If this drops, what outcome will suffer — and is there a time lag?"

Efficiency

68 metrics

A ratio that measures conversion of inputs to outputs. You benchmark this against peers.

Test: "Is this a ratio where both numerator and denominator matter independently?"

Operational

137 metrics

A volume, velocity, or process metric you manage day-to-day. The machinery of the business.

Test: "Is this something a manager reviews in a weekly standup?"

How We Classified

Each metric was classified by applying the test question for each signal type. The key insight is that Outcome is defined by accountability (someone has a target on it), not by time orientation. This resolves edge cases like Win Rate (Outcome, Sales owns it as a target) and DORA metrics (Operational, managed in engineering standups).

Dual-Tagging

9 metrics carry both a primary and secondary signal type. This is reserved for metrics that genuinely serve two audiences. For example, NRR is both an Outcome (CS sets targets on it) and an Efficiency benchmark (investors compare it across companies). "I can't decide" is not a reason for dual-tagging.

Distribution

Type	Count	% of Total
Outcome	68	23%
Leading	36	12%
Efficiency	68	23%
Operational	137	46%

Note: Dual-tagged metrics are counted in both types, so percentages may sum to more than 100%.