Present Sense: A Practical Guide to the Science of Measuring Performance and the Art of Communicating it, with the Brain in Mind

In this provocative yet practical guidebook Steve Morlidge demonstrates why the approach and methods of performance reporting that all information professionals have been taught fails, and what we need to do differently to help us make sense of the dynamic, complex and data rich world in which we now live and work.
Reporting on performance should not be treated as worthy but dull, requiring no more than routine comparisons of actual against targets. This traditional approach is based on the false premise organisations can be managed as if they were a simple mechanical system operating in a predictable environment. And the methods associated with it, such as variance analyses and data tables that are used to measure and communicate performance, are completely inadequate. 
Instead, Morlidge argues performance reporting should be reconceived as an act of perception conducted on behalf of the organisation, helping to make sense of the sensory inputs (data) that it has at its disposal. And to do so effectively performance reporters need to learn from and exploit the strengths of our own brains, compensate for its weaknesses and communicate in a way that makes it easy for their audience’s brains to assimilate.
Drawing on the latest insights from cognitive science in this book you will learn:
• how to bring a dynamic perspective into performance reporting • how to deploy a set of simple tools to help speared the signal from the noise inherent in large data sets and to make sound inferences • how to set goals intelligently • about the grammar of data visualization and how use it to design powerful and simple reports 
In this way information professionals are uniquely charged with the responsibility for creating the shared consciousness that is a prerequisite for organisations to effectively respond and adapt to their environments.

Bjarte Bogsnes: Senior Advisor Performance Framework, Equinor - “Steve Morlidge has been a key figure in the Beyond Budgeting movement for more than twenty years. “Present Sense” is a great follow-up to “Future Ready”. Once again, the systemic problems of traditional management practices are ruthlessly exposed, and as always Steve provides practical and tested advice and guidance on much better alternatives. Highly readable and highly recommended.”

With Present Sense Steve Morlidge scores a direct hit. On the one hand, he thoroughly exposes the inherent control illusion of the dominant, classical way how organizations define and measure success. On the other hand, he clearly and concretely points out what really matters when measuring, evaluating and communicating performance in organizations and also takes the latest findings from neuroscience into account in a pioneering way. --Professor Franz Roosli: Head of Centre of Enterprise Development, ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences

A book that everyone with a serious interest in performance management, decision making or simply human nature needs to read. Steve has looked to answer the existential questions of anyone who has led a business, managed a budget or searched for a competitive edge in business data. Don t miss it! --Chris Argent : Founder and CEO of Generation CFO

Andrew Codd, Founder & Producer, The Strength in the Numbers Show -

Steve Morlidge makes an excellent attempt to plug a gap in the technical training of a lot of accountants, finance and other information professionals about keeping the brain in mind when it comes to reporting information so that meaning and also influence doesn’t get lost between the messenger and receiver.

Larysa Melnychuk, CEO and Founder of International FP&A Board and FP&A Trends Group -

The majority of organisations still use the traditional variance analysis technique in their corporate performance management practices. In the 21st century, this old method is deeply embedded in organisational FP&A processes. Why do we still use this approach to give us an “illusion of insight” and what are the alternatives for reporting on performance to decision makers?  Steve’s new book is very timely for the FP&A community as it gives valuable insights on art and science of modern performance management. The book not only provides practical guidance on the subject of performance reporting and visualisation, but also helps to understand how we can process data better through separating signals from noise.
The book explains complex things in such beautiful and colourful language as well as presenting many simple tools and tried-tested approaches.  This is definitely a must-read for FP&A professionals!"

Olivier Fernandez: Head of Financial Planning & Analysis, SIG Combibloc -

This book is different from other literature about data analysis and reporting. It’s not about hyping the new big data era and fancy tools. It’s about how to analyse and present the data in order to make sense of it. Steve Morlidge combines insights from brain research with data science and relates his concepts to business practice. A highly recommended book for information professionals who want to drive innovation.

Jonathan Chocqueel-Mangan: Chief Strategy Officer, Pearson.-
Everyone knows that change is the only constant, but our forecasting and budgeting systems seem immune to this, and so they are not helping us learn, adapt and succeed as the world around us continues to change at pace.  Steve has taken up the challenge of figuring out how our finance processes, such critical drivers of culture, can adapt.  And he does this from a practical and rigorous perspective, combining his own experience as a practitioner with his expertise as a researcher and thought leader.  This is an important issue for every organisation, and Steve is the guide we need.

Professor Tim Stewart: Vice-Chancellor and CEO, BPP University, London -
Steve Morlidge has the mind to see traditional practice from different angles drawing out weaknesses others are blind to. His imaginative thinking brings new solutions to his discipline. This is essential reading for the modern information professional.

Axel Guðni Úlfarsson: -

Information technology has advanced dramatically in the past two decades and enhanced organization’s capabilities to report and analyze data. But the fundamental ways most organizations use data for performance management have not changed at the same time.

Dr. Morlidge does an excellent job in highlighting this fact by demonstrating how many current performance management practices don’t work and by providing multiple practical solutions to improve it.

The book is packed with real life examples which makes the topic more relatable with actual problems and make the book much more fun to read. The technical solutions Dr. Morlidge demonstrates are simple and do not require advanced skills to master.

The book is based on Dr. Morlidge’s practical experience in addition to his deep academic knowledge on the subject of performance management and I highly recommend it for those looking to improve their skills on the subject.

Sebastian D Becker Professor HEC Paris -

This book is an important resource for any information professional, so someone who analyzes performance data and produces reports. For one, it picks you up from where you probably currently are in your organization. Here, Morlidge’s book is a great eye opener in that it shows what signals organizations actually need to understand from their data and how their current and taken-for-granted practices are probably not achieving that purpose. For another, “Present Sense” provides you with a hands-on way of how to improve not only the sense-making of your performance data but also how to present meaning to decision-makers in the best possible way. Just like the previous “Future Ready” book by the author on forecasting, this book will become the leading voice in an essential but previously unoccupied area of business practice, this time regarding the analysis of data about the past. Relevant at any moment in time, it is a compelling read especially when data is becoming more and more abundant.

 

Anders Olesen, Partner Basico -

In his new and highly recommended book, Steve Morlidge introduces a new role: The performance reporter - an excellent term for those involved in the difficult task of interpreting and sharing information about organisational performance. The book is an absolute must read for every Performance reporter in the world
 
Steve Morlidge’s new book is yet another significant contribution to helping organisations implement the Beyond Budgeting principles in practice.

 

Roger Seabrook: VP Finance Marketing & Sustainability at Unilever -

Most of us have wondered how we can get better at extracting insights from data and then getting our messages across to our colleagues. This book gives practical guidance on how to separate information from noise and then goes on to show how an understanding of how our brains work reveals simple steps to clearer and more effective communication. I only wish that I had been able to read it earlier!