Five reasons to become a certified
KPI Black Belt
1. Mastering Effective Performance Measurement Made Easy
- Fed up with the complexities and frustrations of designing and implementing performance measurement?
- The KPI Black Belt programme offers a streamlined solution, making the process efficient and ensuring your team follows seamlessly.
2. Beyond Software: Harness the Power of Skills and Structured Methods
- In a software-centric corporate landscape, the emphasis often neglects the vital skills and methods essential for success.
- The KPI Black Belt programme shifts the focus from tooling, ensuring you gain the critical skills and methods necessary for effective performance measurement. No more ambiguity – learn what to measure and how with precision.
3. Coherent Toolkit for Results
- Performance measurement professionals juggle multiple techniques, leading to hit-and-miss outcomes and wasted effort.
- The KPI Black Belt programme introduces an integrated toolkit and approach, eliminating the guesswork. Say goodbye to time-consuming combinations and difficulty in merging methodologies – achieve results with precision and efficiency.
4. Fast-Track Your Career with Structure and Certification
- Without a structured toolkit and a shared 'language of measurement,' your career might hit a plateau.
- The KPI Black Belt programme acts as your career accelerator, providing the structured approach, integrated skills, and the certification that can catapult you into recognition and fast-track your professional journey. No more stagnant careers – propel forward with confidence.
5. Unlock Your Status as the Go-To Expert
- Aspiring to be the go-to performance expert, delivering standout business results? It's all about mastering an integrated approach.
- The KPI Black Belt programme is your shortcut to gaining the recognised certification that propels you into the spotlight. Gain the expertise and recognition you deserve with our streamlined, online certification – the key to becoming the industry's go-to performance management professional.
Our approach
Self-paced online modules with weekly live tutorials, KPI community membership and expert support
Small group weekly live online tutorials - No more than 12 students in each session
13-week programme
with video catchups available for those with challenging diaries
Who benefits from the
ROKS KPI Black Belt programme?
The ROKS KPI Black Belt programme caters to professionals seeking to deepen their technical and management skills in performance measurement design, implementation, and problem-solving.
Tailored for individuals who:
- Aim to develop and implement robust KPIs efficiently for their organisation or clients, maximising results.
- Aspire to guide clients or colleagues seamlessly through the intricacies of performance measurement techniques.
- Wish to leverage advanced KPI methods, including Index KPIs, control charts, KPIs for Lean Six Sigma programmes, and OKR Trees.
- Seek to showcase their expertise through the prestigious KPI Black Belt certification.
Typically, participants will be corporate performance management specialists or consultants operating in strategy, performance improvement, management information, business intelligence, data or systems. However, the design of the programme makes it easily accessible to any individual desiring to unlock their status as the go-to expert in KPIs.
Designed for Your Success:
- Optimised Time Investment: Designed with your schedule in mind, the programme ensures minimal disruption to your billing hours, allowing seamless integration into your professional commitments.
- Practical Application: Real-world applicability ensures immediate value, translating your learning into tangible results and making every moment invested worthwhile.
Certification Prestige: Elevate your profile with the esteemed KPI Black Belt certification, establishing yourself as a go-to expert without compromising your ongoing responsibilities.
Skills for all situations
The methods and techniques you will learn are designed to work in any industry or sector. Perfect for internal performance measurement specialists or external consultants.
Ground-breaking methodology
We cover a broad selection of unique, advanced and powerful performance measurement techniques only available through madetomeasurekpis.com and kpi.academy, delivered by method creator, industry leader and course tutor, Bernie Smith.
Practise in a safe environment
The programme gives you the chance to practise your new skills through multiple case studies, supported through regular small group tutorials with an expert coach.
What our students think
More feedback...
I deeply believe this is a must-have background/knowledge for any business analyst/consultant. I was a bit unsure about doing a course like this online but was surprised how fun it was!
Ronald van Lent, Managing Director of JUGO, KPI Black Belt graduate April 2022
Since completing KPI Bootcamp and then my KPI Black Belt, I feel I have the skills and motivation to guide my clients through successful KPI implementation. Thanks Bernie for the amazing learning!
Ricardo Faria, Senior Service & UX Designer at Cognizant, KPI Black Belt graduate April 2022
If you're considering the Black Belt course, you probably have this uncomfortable feeling somewhere that, that you are not happy with how KPIs are currently. I would say, just do it because it will change how you will work with KPIs from the moment on you finish the course.
Jeroen Volk, Chartered Accountant, Scaling Up Consultant and Serial Entrepreneur, KPI Black Belt graduate May 2023
What our students think
The programme to unlock your status as the go-to expert on performance management in your organisation.
How does certification work?
Achieving Black Belt Status
- Completion of all of the online learning modules
- Completion of all assignments to the required standard
- Passing course module knowledge quizzes (70% or greater, five attempts)
- Attendance of the agreed tutorials (timing will be by mutual agreement and will be as flexible as possible)
Maintaining Certification
Certification and the first year fees are included in the course fees. Maintenance of certification requires a €150 annual subscription (year two onwards) and offering the benefits of:
- listing and verification on the Trusted ROKS KPI Black Belt Professionals page on the Made to Measure KPIs official website, and
- full access to the latest KPI Black Belt tools, templates and training materials (even those created after you qualify).
Certification benefits
Earning your KPI Black Belt certification opens doors to personalised benefits tailored for high-achieving professionals like you:
1. Showcase Your Expertise:
- Personalised ROKS KPI Black Belt e-badge and certificate, ideal for enhancing your LinkedIn profile and email signature.
2. Trusted Professional Recognition:
- Secure your spot on the prestigious Trusted ROKS KPI Black Belt Professionals page, offering quick verification and elevating your profile in the KPI field of expertise.
3. Elite Community Networking Opportunities:
- Gain exclusive access to the KPI Black Belt Guru community, providing the latest releases, advanced tools, and a chance to connect with fellow high-achieving KPI professionals.
Elevate your professional standing, expand your network, and stay at the forefront of KPI expertise with our KPI Black Belt certification.
Claim Your Seat - Limited Spots Available!
Enroll for the Feb 2024 Programme Now.
First session will be 21st Feb 2024, with weekly live tutorials at 17:00 UK time. Tutorial recordings will be available for those with diary challenges.
Prefer to pay by invoice and purchase order?
Email us at [email protected] with your name, organisation (if appropriate), address and tax number (VAT/UTR etc.) as you would like it to appear on the invoice.
The tools and methods covered in the programme...
A structured method for finding the right KPIs in any situation
The core of of the programme is the 'Results Orientated KPI System'. The ROKS method is a flexible and powerful method for selecting the best performance measures for any organisation and is in regular use by many brand names organisations.
Harness the power of targets and incentives
Targets and incentives are a critical part of bringing KPIs to life and delivering results. All too often targets and incentives are chosen on an arbitrary basis, using guesswork and 'gut feel'. Worse still, these poorly designed targets and incentives can lead to totally unintended consequences from gaming. The ROKET-DS brings a logical structured approach that can be used in any situation to develop effective targets, key results and incentives.
Powerful visual KPI and OKR design using KPI Trees
The heart of the ROKS method is the KPI Tree methodology. KPI Trees are powerful, easy to understand and visual. They are also a learned skill.
Learn how KPI Tree workshops can build engagement, agreement and highlight hidden KPI risks.
Teams that use this approach derive huge insight from the KPI trees they build.
Index KPIs: Summarising the complex, simply
It's difficult to read and digest multiple related KPIs. This can paralyse decision-making or lead to reliance on a restricted number of KPIs.
An index KPI rolls multiple related KPIs into a single 'headline' KPI, helping the user rapidly identify where they need to focus their attention and dig deeper.
In the Index KPI Design module, we introduce you to a powerful structured approach - the 'EPIK' index design system and toolkit, developed by your tutor, Bernie Smith.
Smart Charts - Separating signal from noise
All processes vary naturally. This is called 'process noise'. How do you know that a chart that increases is really showing improvement and isn't just showing natural variation? In this module we carefully dissect one shocking example. Using the six most common trending methods we show that the choice of trending tool has a greater impact on the conclusion drawn that the data itself! Control charts, specifically XmR charts, offer a mathematically valid solution to this problem. We cover both the theory of XmR/ImR charts and hands-on physical simulation.
Holmes Method for Apparently Impossible Measures
Many of the most exciting potential KPIs may seem to be hard, or even impossible to measure. Using the three strategies of the Holmes Method, almost anything becomes measurable. Learn the techniques that allowed a pension firm to predict when a customer was intending to leave, how much a Blue Whale eats and how a supermarket figured out if a family shops at rival supermarkets.
Brilliant Dashboard Method
In this module, we dig into what makes reports and dashboards clear, simple and informative.
Starting from the first principles of perception, we build a simple, practical set of rules that will allow you to quickly, and objectively, analyse new or existing report designs then identify and fix the issues you identify.
The Black Belt programme in detail...
- Clear strategy - Why strategy matters (6:12)
- Clear strategy - Cutting through the nonsense using the Big 6 (8:37)
- Clear strategy - example and template (6:08)
- The Big 6 Cheat Sheet (0:56)
- Testing our strategic objectives for woolly words and other problems (5:13)
- Strategy for mission-based organisations (5:36)
- Pre-flight strategy - checklist (1:16)
- Running a KPI strategy definition workshop - checklist (2:17)
- Step 1 recap (0:44)
- Module quiz
- Assignment
- Why engagement matters (5:33)
- What drives engagement and the challenges of change (4:11)
- Challenge 1: Identifying who needs to be involved (11:09)
- Challenge 2: Engaging the team as early as possible (0:44)
- Challenge 3: Assessing the right level and type of involvement (7:46)
- Challenge 4: Dealing with resistance, hostility and concerns (10:13)
- Step 2 recap (1:19)
- Module quiz
- Learning objectives (2:14)
- Why KPI Trees are critical to KPI development (5:23)
- KPI Tree build walk-through (9:32)
- KPI Tree basics (15:30)
- A structured approach to building KPI Trees (1:00)
- The 4Cs method - Chunk (18:21)
- The 4Cs method - Chat (6:18)
- The 4Cs method - Check (7:31)
- The 4Cs method - Connect (5:23)
- Advanced 4C methods: Traits and special KPI cases (9:02)
- Web marketing KPI Tree build demo (12:59)
- KPI Tree drawing tools overview (5:07)
- Visio KPI Tree build demo (4:06)
- OmniGraffle KPI Tree build demo (4:31)
- PowerPoint KPI Tree build demo (3:21)
- Drawing KPI Trees: The practicalities (4:41)
- Running a successful KPI Tree workshop (2:51)
- Advanced: Using OKRs and KPI Trees together (10:55)
- Step 3 recap (2:02)
- Module quiz
- Assignment
- Learning objectives (1:16)
- The Shortlisting matrix (9:59)
- Calibration (1:42)
- The Shortlisting spreadsheet template - explainer and demo (4:11)
- Sifting questions (3:13)
- Chaos Coffee Calibration and Shortlisting example (3:09)
- Advanced: Running a Shortlisting workshop (2:25)
- Learning objectives recap (1:36)
- Module quiz
- Learning objectives and introduction (2:40)
- Why KPI definition is career-critical (4:32)
- ROKS KPI Canvas walkthrough (13:19)
- Fine tuning our KPI Definitions (4:38)
- Introducing the Excel KPI definition tracker template (5:41)
- Running a KPI Definition workshop (1:39)
- Learning objectives recap (0:20)
- Module quiz
- Assignment
- Learning objectives (10:08)
- The problem with targets (9:51)
- Learning from failure - Introduction (0:53)
- Case study: Chronic complaint (10:12)
- Case study: Family friendly motoring (3:35)
- Case study: Mutual fund madness (3:27)
- Case study: Broken banking (6:18)
- Case study: Medical mayhem (5:12)
- Case study: A-grade abundance (4:46)
- Case study: Shizzle systems (3:02)
- Introducing the ROKET-DS diagnostic (7:49)
- Module quiz
- Assignment
- Target method and intro and Step 0 (12:22)
- Target method Step 1 (4:18)
- Target method Step 2 (7:46)
- Target method Step 3 (4:09)
- Target method Step 4 (4:47)
- Target method Step 5 (3:13)
- Target method Step 6 (1:40)
- Target method Step 7 (11:27)
- Target method Step 8 (8:05)
- Target method Step 9 (3:20)
- Target recap and introduction to the Canvas (4:21)
- Module quiz
- Assignment
- Incentives and motivation (11:03)
- Incentive method intro and Step 10 (1:29)
- Shizzle Systems case study (24:16)
- Gamification (1:27)
- Incentive method Step 11 (0:49)
- Incentive method Step 12 (1:36)
- Incentive method Step 13 (1:47)
- Incentive method Step 14 (1:00)
- Incentive canvas (0:56)
- Incentive and full method recap (2:36)
- Words of caution (7:23)
- Running a workshop (6:01)
- Wrap-up (9:35)
- Module quiz
- Assignment
- Learning objectives (6:01)
- Design fundamentals (11:58)
- Visual encoding (4:32)
- Encoding in charts (12:00)
- Chart design choice (12:36)
- Tidy tables (8:55)
- Compelling commentary (7:54)
- Pattern recognition (6:04)
- Logical layouts (12:07)
- Visual design checklist (2:47)
- Design standards (5:01)
- Learning objectives recap (2:59)
- Module quiz
- Module assignment
- Learning objectives (2:15)
- What is an Index KPI? (7:29)
- What makes a good Index KPI? (6:28)
- Introducing the EPIK design method for Index KPIs (1:13)
- EPIK method Step 1 (1:47)
- EPIK method Step 2 (3:27)
- EPIK method Step 3 (3:36)
- EPIK method Step 4 (12:46)
- EPIK method Step 5 (3:12)
- EPIK method Step 6 (4:57)
- EPIK method Step 7 (5:58)
- Introducing the EPIK Toolkit (4:32)
- EPIK Toolkit - Building our first mini index (13:12)
- EPIK Toolkit - Building the last three mini indexes (15:01)
- EPIK Toolkit - Scenario testing (5:38)
- Wrap-up (2:52)
- Learning objectives recap (1:01)
- Module quiz
- Module assignment
- Learning objectives (1:09)
- The common methods for analysing trends (9:11)
- WHY common methods of trending suck for decision making (12:18)
- Introducing Smart Charts - Deficit Case Study (15:57)
- Some extra things to consider with Smart Charts (3:01)
- How to respond to the rules and when to recalculate (6:28)
- Which types of data we can use Smart Charts with (1:58)
- Learning objectives recap (2:57)
- Module quiz
- Module assignment
- Learning objectives and introduction (3:10)
- Transfer Turmoil (2:37)
- Holmes Method Step 1 (4:56)
- Holmes Method Step 1 - Practical example (3:26)
- Holmes Method Step 2 (5:29)
- Holmes Method Step 2 - Practical examples (9:15)
- Holmes Method Step 3 (5:31)
- Holmes Method Step 3 - Practical example (4:06)
- Holmes Method recap (3:52)
- Transfer Turmoil - Resolution (3:49)
- Learning objectives recap (0:34)
- Module quiz
- Module assignment
About your tutor
Bernie is a highly experienced performance measurement consultant, trainer, speaker and best-selling KPI author. Convinced that there are many lifetimes of terrible KPIs that need fixing, his mission is to share sensible, easy to understand methods with as many people as possible to improve the quality of management information being used around the world.
His ideas have shaped the world of performance measurement and can often be seen referenced, reused and rebadged by others in the field.
Trainer
Bernie travels the world delivering public and bespoke in-house training on performance measurement. All of his material is highly interactive and practical. He can also deliver hybrid, online, training: a mixture of elearning, live training and coaching. Get in touch for a free conversation to explore if this is something you (or your organisation) might benefit from.
Author
Bernie has written nineteen (and counting) books on KPIs and report design. On any given day his books will usually be in the top three for a 'KPI' search on Amazon. Each book is written to be practical, conversational and no-nonsense. Head over to madetomeasurekpis.com to get more details on his books.
Consultant
Every method, checklist and tip in this online training has been derived from Bernie's 25 years of consulting experience. Nothing beats custom advice when the stakes are high and you are under pressure to deliver. Every consulting role is different, so get in touch for a free initial exploratory conversation.
What are the enrolment requirements?
There are no formal enrolment requirements. You are welcome to set up a Zoom discussion to talk through the required commitment and expectation using this link https://calendly.com/bernie-smith/introductory-conversation. Participating in the programme is a major commitment for both parties so a call is a good idea if you have questions or reservations.
What is the delivery approach?
The programme makes full use of a range of online tools to make the experience as full as possible.
- The online modules will be delivered through our eLearning platform: https://kpi.academy. The course is also accessible on iOS using the free teachable app.
- Live tutorial sessions will be held through Zoom and Miro virtual whiteboard (as appropriate).
- Assignments will be managed through a private group in our online community (http://www.kpi.community) using our dedicated, secure online community tool.
In addition to these core plaforms, your tutor will always be available by email.
Clear and concise
downloadable course notes
Expertly designed
cheat sheets
Exclusive dedicated
KPI Black Belt community
Group size
Each wave will have a maximum group size of 12, and a minimum of 3.
Satisfaction Promise
We do our best to give you a full and honest picture of our courses, but if you decide that, after the first tutorial, this is not the programme for you, simply contact us for a full, cheerful and prompt refund.
The only condition on this promise is that you are no more than 20% of the way through the course.
Claim Your Seat – Limited Spots Available!
Enroll for the Feb 2024 Programme Now.
First session will be 21st Feb 2024, with weekly live tutorials at 17:00 UK time. Tutorial recordings will be available for those with diary challenges.
Prefer to pay by invoice and purchase order?
Email us at [email protected] with your name, organisation (if appropriate), address and tax number (VAT/UTR etc.) as you would like it to appear on the invoice.
Membership of the KPI Black Belt Guru community
All certified KPI Black Belts have access to the KPI Black Belt Guru community. A private, advertisement-free community space to...
- Download latest revisions of existing tools
- Download newly developed tools and templates
- Network
- Ask questions
- Discuss KPI challenges
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the videos subtitled (close captions)?
Yes, all video modules have English subtitles.
Do I get immediate access to all the modules upon sign up?
The course material is 'dripped' over the 12-week programme, with new material being made available each week. This ensures that students get full value from each session by completing assignments and tutorials alongside the online learning modules.
What IT do I need to take part in the programme?
To take part in the sessions you will need...
- A computer (either a PC or Mac is fine)
- A decent internet connection (good enough for a stable Zoom/Skype/Teams video call)
- A headset to talk on (avoids feedback and poor sound quality)
- Zoom (a free download)
- PDF viewing software (for example Adobe's free Acrobat Reader, Apple's Preview or Window's PDF Reader)
- Chrome web browser. Others may work, but Chrome definitely works!
Can I download the videos?
For copyright protection the videos can only be viewed through your KPI Academy account. Your initial access is valid for one year, but renews each year with your KPI Black Belt subscription.
Does Bernie do consulting, in-house training and custom training?
Absolutely! Get in touch using https://calendly.com/bernie-smith/introductory-conversation to set up a free introductory call to explore the options.
What if I find the course is not for me?
If you decide, by the end of the first workshop session, that the course is not for you then you can contact us for a cheerful full refund of your course fees.
What if I can't make a session?
Recordings will be available for single missed tutorial sessions, on request. If two or more of the group cannot make a tutorial, we will discuss rescheduling the tutorial or running an extra session.
What is the cancellation policy?
You can request a full refund at any point up to the end of the first workshop session.
Do I need to do any preparation for the course?
If you want to start developing KPIs for your organisation for a client, then bring along the strategic objectives for that business. This will get you off to a good start and help you make the most of your workshop time. If you don't have a specific application in mind, or are not able to share this kind of thing, there's a 'backup' case study you can use. The choice is yours. You will be sent detailed guidance when you sign up and we are always happy to discuss this before you join the course.
Other than that, all you need to do is turn up to the session on time and with an open mind.
When are the tutorials held?
Each Wednesday at 16:30 UTC. The timing and day may be adjusted where it works better for the group.
Am I free to use the course materials in my organisation or with clients?
We want you to use your training and course materials to succeed. However, there are some reasonable restrictions on use, these are clearly and simply laid out on this page: https://kpi.academy/p/ip-acceptable-usage
What certificate do I receive on graduation?
When you have graduated, you will receive...
- A personalised graduation certificate
- A personalised electronic badge, for use on LinkedIn, email footers and other online tools
- A profile and contact section on Trusted ROKS KPI Black Belt Professionals
A personalised, physical trophy like this...
Secure Your Seat Now for the Feb 2024 Programme
- Act Fast, Elevate Faster!
First session will be 21st Feb 2024, with weekly live tutorials at 17:00 UK time. Tutorial recordings will be available for those with diary challenges.
Prefer to pay by invoice and purchase order?
Email us at [email protected] with your name, organisation (if appropriate), address and tax number (VAT/UTR etc.) as you would like it to appear on the invoice.
Still have questions? Get in touch!
Drop us an email on [email protected] or set up a Zoom call here https://calendly.com/bernie-smith/catch-up