Read a Bullet Graph

Graph Item

Description

Horizontal bar (black)

The black horizontal bar represents the actual performance for the analysis period (for example, year-to-date revenue).

If you position the mouse pointer at any point on this bar, Costpoint Analytics – Summary displays the budget amount, the performance amount and percentage of budget at which the cautionary alert is triggered, and the performance amount and percentage of budget at which the urgent alert is triggered.

Vertical bar (black)

The black vertical bar represents the baseline budget or forecast for the analysis period (for example, year-to-date revenue budget).

Percent attained

The percentage to the right of the graph is the percentage of budget attained for the analysis period:

(Actual performance / Budget) × 100.

Percentage scale

The scale along the bottom of the graph indicates percentage of budget.

Alert areas

The graph background is divided into alert areas based on tolerance percentages that your system administrator establishes for each of the analytics:

• Acceptable — If the actual performance bar extends into the area on the right (as in the illustration above), that area is green, indicating acceptable performance.

• Cautionary alert — If the actual performance bar ends within the middle area, that area is yellow, indicating that performance is below the expected level but is not yet a critical problem.

• Urgent alert —  If the actual performance bar ends within the left area, that area is red, indicating that performance is far enough below budget that it requires urgent attention.

The width of the cautionary alert area depends on the tolerances your system administrator specifies. If the difference between the percentage at which the cautionary area begins and that at which the urgent area begins is small, the cautionary alert area will be very narrow.