The ability to use and have command of metrics are essential skills for the agile IT executive. In this issue of CBR , Cutter Consortium Senior Consultant Michael Mah provides a look at the emerging discipline of metrics and benchmarking and then frames the discussion in terms of using reliable information to make high-stakes decisions.

Jim Brosseau follows with a piece that highlights the dangers of using externally generated benchmark data and offers advice for balancing it with internally gathered data.