In this article, we'll cover how you can set up the progress type that best suits your goals and work style.
What Are the Different Ways to View the Progress of a Quarterly Priority?
Metronome offers several ways to track and visualize the progress of a Quarterly Priority. This flexibility allows you to match the progress tracking method to the type of work being done.
Depending on how you set up your priority, you can choose from five different progress tracking methods:
1. Progress by Roll-Up Sub-Priorities (13-Week Sprint)
The first progress type we'll cover is using Roll-Up Sub-Priorities that aligns with the use of a 13-Week Sprint. This method is used in the Metronomics Compounding Growth Operating System and provides the most detailed and comprehensive approach to executing on your priorities.
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Each sub-priority contributes to the overall progress of the main (parent) priority.
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The Actual Progress % is calculated as an average of all Roll-Up Sub-Priorities completed to date.
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This is compared to the Target Pace %—which represents how far along you should be based on the current week in the quarter.
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The comparison between Actual and Target Pace determines the status color (e.g., green, yellow, red) for the priority.
2. Action Item Based
This method calculates progress by comparing the number of completed Action Items to the total Action Items that are associated with the priority.
- When calculating the Target Pace %, Metronome places extra emphasis on Action Item due dates, not just the total number completed.
Example: You have 10 Action Items for the quarter, and 5 of them are due in the first month. If today’s date is after that first month, and any of those 5 Action Items are still incomplete, the status color will turn red, even if you've completed 6 total.
That’s because Metronome considers which Action Items should be done by now based on their due dates—not just how many are complete overall. If any Action Items are overdue, your priority will be marked as off-track.
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This method is ideal when success is tied to task completion.
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Progress updates automatically as action items are checked off.
3. Customizable Bounds
Use this option when you're tracking a numeric value between a start, current, and target number.
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You define your own minimum, current, and maximum bounds.
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Best for goals like sales revenue, number of hires, or product users.
Example: Starting at $100K with a target of $200K. If you're currently at $150K, your progress is 50%.
3. Percentage Based
Directly input a value between 0–100% to reflect progress.
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Offers full control over progress updates.
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Useful when progress is based on judgment or qualitative factors.
Example: Manually update to 75% based on team consensus during a weekly meeting.
5. Time Based
Tracks progress as a percentage of time that has passed between the priority’s start and due date.
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Useful when time alone is a meaningful indicator of progress.
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Can help identify if actual progress is falling behind the expected pace.
Example: If you're halfway through the quarter but only 30% done, your priority will show as off-track.
Choosing the Right Method
You can set the tracking method when you create the priority—or update it later by selecting the type of progress from the drop-down in the priority settings.
Each method has its use case, and you can tailor the setup to match how your team works best. For more structured planning, Roll-Up Sub-Priorities are the most effective way to track your priorities. For flexible or qualitative progress, Action Item Based, Customizable Bounds, or Percentage Based might be more appropriate.