In This Article

Overview

VDT Tab

How does a Variable VDT Node work?

Edit Mode

Tracking Non-Financial Benefits

Referencing Non-Financial Benefits

Importing a VDT

Next Steps

Overview

VDTs are used to calculate the benefit contribution of an idea/initiative at the end of the implementation.

VDT Tab



 Allows the user to select between 3 different views:
  • Baseline - Starting point used for comparison in measuring VDT data.
  • Variance - Measure of how much the values differ from the mean or average.
  • Benefit - Display the benefit made from the each VDT. 

 Edit mode allows you to make changes to the nodes of the tree including drag & drop of nodes to other parents and reordering.

 

Status colours can be toggled on/off; the legend (at the bottom left) changes based on the node status colours


If the status colours are turned off, the legend will show you what the colour of each node type is. 


If the status colours are turned on, the legend shows the different status colours. KPI Node Status Colors


 

Options in the three-dot menu include: 

  • Distribute Benefit: Allows benefits to be distributed yearly even though the Benefit End date is a few years ahead.
  • Downloading the VDT.


 

There are 5 different node types:

  • Parent node - the only node that can have child nodes; expand/collapse the child nodes linked.
  • KPI node - the node is linked to a specific KPI.
  • Constant node - this node has static/constant values.
  • Variable node - this node only retrieves the Baseline, Actual, and Target value from the associated KPI, using the predefined KPI calculation method. It does not calculate or display Improvement, Benefit, or Variance values.
  • Reference node - allows you to reference a node within the VDT.
  • VDT node: a node that was imported from another VDT

Zoom in or out of a VDT by using the scroll of the mouse or using the zoom buttons.

How does a Variable VDT Node work?

A variable VDT node sources Baseline, Actual and Target values directly from the KPI based on the configured KPI's calculation method. 


VDT Views

In the three VDT Views, a variable node is displayed as follows:

    • In the Baseline view, the node will only display the Target and baseline fields
      • these values are sourced from the KPI when the KPI is selected the first time
      • these values are editable in the node configuration when in the baseline view but not in other views

    • In the Variance view, the node will display the Target and MTD Actual values
      • these values have the KPI calculation method applied
      • these values are read-only in the node configuration

    • In the Benefit view, the node will display the Baseline and MTD Actual values
      • these values have the KPI calculation method applied
      • these values are read-only in the node configuration
Note: if there are no monthly calculated method KPI values to source, the values in the Variable and Benefit views of the VDT will be shown as blank


Variable Node vs KPI node

The difference between a normal KPI node and a Variable node is:

  • a variable node does not calculate or display the improvement, variance or benefit value. Whereas a KPI node would calculate the improvement, variance and benefit value.

  • variable node does not allow the user to edit Baseline and Target values when in the Benefit or Variance view. These values are only sourced from the KPI itself. A KPI node provides that flexibility to enter default values or source from the KPI.

  • a variable node does not display a KPI chart or trend icon. Whereas a KPI node displays icons to view the KPI chart and trend icon


KPI Value Calculation Method on Variable Node

The values displayed on the variable node applies the calculation method configured on the KPI. For example, this KPI has Average per Period set as its Value Calculation Method


The KPI values for the month of May are as follows:


The Baseline and Target values displayed on the VDT apply the Average Calculation Method (Baseline = 150 + 50 + 200 + 250 = 650 / 4 = 162,50; Target = 200 + 100 + 300 + 400 = 1000 / 4 = 250


Importing a Variable Node

When a VDT with a Variable node is imported into an Idea VDT, the following is observed with the node:

  • The connected KPI is still retained 
  • The Baseline and Target Values from the KPI are still retained in the Baseline View 
  • Monthly Baseline, Target and Actual values are sourced and displayed from the connected KPI when viewed in the Benefit and Variance View
  • The Title, Reference, Decimals and Comments are retained in all the VDT views


Edit Mode

Add nodes to the VDT by clicking the + sign display on the Node

Edit the details of a node by clicking on the edit icon below the + sign


Note: A node not used on its respective parent will have a broken line.

Tracking Non-Financial Benefits

Parent nodes can now be tagged to track Non-Financial benefits (Non-financial VDTs will appear in yellow):    


Give the node a name.
Select a reference character that will be used.
Select the node type.
Chose whether this node is aiming for an upwards or downwards trend.
Select the category this node is related to.
Click Save to add the node.



Note: The expected trend of a financial parent node will not affect the expected trend of other financial parent nodes


Note: Variable baseline and target options have been added to the KPI nodes:

If the variable option is checked, the calculated Baseline/Target will be used in the benefits calculation of the selected Idea/Initiative, sourcing the variable baseline/target values for the relevant month straight from the KPI. This will be displayed on both the node and the Benefits page.
Changes to the VDT are saved automatically when moving/dragging around nodes.


Referencing Non-Financial Benefits


Nodes that reference Non-Financial benefits can be excluded from the aggregation of the Non-Financial benefit for the Idea/Initiative by enabling the "Exclude from Reporting" option:


Importing a VDT

Instead of creating additional, lengthy parent nodes, you can choose to import them from another VDT within the same folder structure. You can only import a parent node into another parent node that has no additional nodes. 


To import a node, click on the library icon and select either Import from Library or Import from Template option. 


Importing from Library

If you select the Import from Library option, the following pop-up screen will be displayed:

Select this checkbox if you want to replace the existing VDT with the imported VDT
Select the import node that the VDT will be imported to. Note that the selected node must be an empty parent node
Select the VDT from the drop-down list that you would like to import from. Note that on each VDT that appears from the list has a label to indicate whether it is a Value Hound VDT or an Initiative VDT


Once the import VDT has been selected, select the parent node you would like to import from, then select Import:


Importing from Template

Parent nodes can be imported from a VDT Excel file template obtained from the Import from Template option. To import this template, follow these steps below:

Select this checkbox if you want to replace the existing VDT with the imported VDT 
Select the import node that the VDT will be imported to. Note that the selected node must be an empty parent node
Select the template file you would like to use for the import
Click to download the template


Importing a Linked VDT from the VDT Library

If you are importing from a linked Value Hound VDT (a VDT linked to another VDT), a warning message will be displayed because linked VDTs are not supported on Initiatives. As a result, the linked child nodes from the Value Hound VDT will be converted to constant nodes on the Idea VDT:



NOTE: when importing a VDT and it contains Emissions nodes, the import module will display an info message to inform the user that the initiative will be sourced to the Emissions module. This will only display when the Emissions feature is enabled.

Next Steps

Now that you understand VDTs. See article - Initiative Workplan.