A http://royston-consulting.com service-level arrangement (SLA), an important part in business consulting, is often used as a link between a company’s operations and customers. It provides the information that each party needs to achieve their goals.
SLAs protect end users and service providers by establishing targets, standards and consequences if they are not met. They also allow the creation key performance indicators which can help a company identify areas of its business that are not on course to meet their strategic objectives.
The SLA must include all services covered by a contract and provide details about turnaround times, as well as any exclusions. A list of metrics that will be used to measure the service provider’s performance should also be specified in the contract.
Metrics that are easy to collect should be chosen to reflect factors that are under the reasonable control of the service provider. They should also reflect a reasonable baseline to allow for refinement over time.
KPIs, or key performance indicators, are metrics that measure the success of a business in terms its primary goals. It can help a business determine if they are veering from their course, which is an issue that is common for small businesses.