In recent years, academics and management consultants have argued the merit of the strategic management plan that is based upon the intelligent use of company performance data. New technologies have evolved to support the growing need for data that supports intelligent management decision making. Corporate performance management systems clearly provide a distinct competitive advantage to those with the ability to execute strategy based upon the data. However, while vigorous data analysis and reporting makes sense, the effort may be fruitless if causal factors and metrics to measure those same factors are not linked to corporate strategy. If the goal is to increase economic value, management energy must be purposefully directed toward activities that exhibit the greatest potential to influence the outcome in a positive way.