Metrics Tree

What the template is about

A metrics tree is a simple, structured way to connect what your product team does day-to-day with what the business ultimately cares about. It helps you visualise how user behaviours and product outcomes ladder up to strategic goals — and where the gaps are.

You can use a metrics tree for two main purposes:

– Mapping how your product contributes to existing business KPIs

– Identifying product metrics that need improving, defining, or better instrumentation

The template reflects a practical, workshop-friendly approach — built to help teams quickly align around what matters, what’s measurable, and what’s missing.

For more background and guidance on how to run the full process, check out the companion article: https://www.hyperact.co.uk/blog/aligning-product-metrics-with-business-goals

What it helps you achieve

Metrics trees, and the conversations they spark, are great for:

🌲 Creating a shared view of how product drives business value

🔍 Spotting gaps or weak links in your measurement stack

🎯 Aligning product and commercial teams on what “good” looks like

🧭 Prioritising which metrics matter, and which need deeper tracking

📣 Improving stakeholder communication around product impact

Who would benefit from it most

This template is most useful to product managers, data analysts, designers, and engineering leads — particularly those trying to align day-to-day delivery with business goals. It’s also valuable for execs or commercial leaders who want to understand how product contributes to outcomes they care about.

How to use it

Start by arranging a working session with a cross-functional group — product, engineering, data, and someone who understands your business goals.

1. Top-down: Start at the top with the strategic goals and KPIs that matter most to your company or leadership team. These are your business outcomes.

2. Bottom-up: Choose one or two key user journeys and break them into steps. For each step, identify metrics you track (or should track), and define what success looks like for users.

3. Connect the dots: For each product or behavioural metric, ask “How would this impact one of our business goals?” Draw the connection.

4. Review and refine: Highlight gaps, questionable metrics, or missing links. Use colour or labels to show what’s trusted, what needs work, and what’s new.

From there, the metrics tree becomes a live artefact — one that can guide measurement, prioritisation, and alignment across your organisation.