BOOK REVIEW
Book Title: Project Management Metrics, KPIs and Dashboards
Author: Harold Kerzner, PhD
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc
List Price: $82.00
Format: Hardcover, 448 pages
Publication Date: 2017
ISBN: 9781119427285
Reviewer: Nidhi Mahajan
Review Date: August 2025
Introduction
I picked up Project Management Metrics, KPIs, and Dashboards because I’ve spent a good part of my career thinking about how to make data more meaningful. I’ve worked across several complex PMOs and led enterprise programs where performance reporting was more of a checkbox than a tool. I wanted to revisit the basics—not to relearn what a KPI is, but to explore how the best minds in the field think about what actually deserves to be measured.
Harold Kerzner’s name has come up often in my journey. He’s one of those rare authors whose books aren’t just referenced—they’re trusted. This one delivered more than I expected. It gave structure to things I had experienced intuitively and pushed me to rethink how metrics should evolve to match strategy, not just track execution.
Overview of Book’s Structure
The book is laid out in a way that makes sense—even if you don’t read it cover to cover. It starts with the core concepts: what metrics and KPIs really are, how they differ, and why misusing them can lead to misleading decisions. It’s the kind of foundation I wish more teams had when setting up their dashboards.
As the chapters progress, the content gets deeper. Kerzner talks about different types of metrics—input, output, outcome, leading, lagging—and how to make sense of them based on who you’re reporting to. There’s a strong emphasis on value-driven metrics, which I really appreciated. Too often, we focus on what’s easiest to measure, not what matters most to the business.
The sections on dashboards were especially practical. Kerzner breaks down what kinds of dashboards work best for operational teams, versus what an executive might need. He also shares tips on how to design them well—simple layouts, consistent color usage, and avoiding unnecessary animations or clutter. Chapter 12 is where it all comes together, offering a hands-on guide to designing dashboards that people will actually use.
There are also plenty of charts, tables, and case-based examples sprinkled throughout. They give you a real sense of how organizations—from NASA to startups—approach performance measurement at different levels of maturity.
More…
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How to cite this work: Mahajan, N. (2025). Project Management Metrics, KPIs and Dashboards, book review, PM World Journal, Vol. XIV, Issue X, October. Available online at https://pmworldlibrary.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/pmwj157-Oct2025-Mahajan-PM-Metrics-KPIs-and-Dashboards-book-review.pdf
About the Reviewer
Nidhi Mahajan
Texas, USA
Nidhi Mahajan is an experienced program and operations leader with a Master of Business Administration in Finance and a Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics & Communications. With over 17 years of experience across financial services and technology, she has held senior roles in program management, PMO governance, and strategic operations—most recently as Director of Business Strategy and Program Operations at Visa Inc. Her work focuses on enterprise transformation, Agile delivery, go-to-market strategy, and applied technology in program environments, including automation, AI integration, and compliance-driven modernization.
Nidhi has contributed to cross-functional initiatives spanning cloud migration, risk frameworks, and digital product launches. She has authored thought leadership pieces on augmented intelligence and human–AI collaboration in program management, drawing from her hands-on experience with tools like JIRA, ServiceNow, Clarity PPM, and Smartsheet. A certified PMP, CSM, and SAFe Agilist, she also mentors early-career professionals and champions data-informed decision-making frameworks.
Nidhi actively participates in global project management communities and speaks at industry forums on PMO innovation and transformation leadership. She can be reached at linkedin.com/in/nmahajan012
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