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%.

GASP Standard v1 · Last updated 2026-02-20