Create a metric · SN Doc Reader

Create a metric to perform calculations on your data.

Before you begin

Role required: sn_esg.metric_manager

About this task

To create a metric, you need a metric definition and an entity. A metric definition defines the method for collecting the score for an entity. When a metric definition gets associated with an entity, it creates a metric.

Procedure

Navigate to All > Operational Sustainability Management > Operational Sustainability Workspace > Metrics.
Select New.
On the form, fill in the fields.

Field	Description
Name	Name for the metric. For example, `Number of incidents - Company A`.
Description	Brief description of the metric.
Active	Option to mark the metric definition as active.
Key metric	Option to mark the metric definition as a key metric.
Metric definition	Metric definition associated with the metric.
Type	Method used to determine if the score is collected manually or in an automated manner. This field is automatically set to Automated. The value updates to match the type of the selected metric definition.
Entity	Entity associated with the metric.
Enterprise Owner Type	Enterprise owner type who is responsible for the metric. This field is automatically set.
Enterprise owner	Enterprise owner of the metric definition. This field is automatically set.
Metric Properties
Direction	Direction of the automated metric definition. The choices are as follows:- None: If you don’t want any change in the metric direction, select this option. Minimize: If the desired metric direction is downward or descending, select this option. For example, you want to minimize the fuel consumption. Maximize: If the desired metric direction is upward or ascending, select this option. For example, you want to maximize the use of natural resources in your organization. Milestone: When the metric direction isn’t applicable, but the metric is tracked against a milestone, select this option. For example, if your organization is going to launch a new renewable energy product in the market, the upcoming launch date is considered as a milestone.
Precision	Number of decimal places after the decimal point on a score. When an indicator has a Precision of 0, the indicator rounds the result to the nearest even, whole number. For example, if an indicator with Precision 0 calculates the values 7 + (5 / 2), the indicator rounds the result up to 10. However, if the formula calculates 2 + (5 / 2), the indicator rounds the result down to 4. When an indicator has a Precision greater than 0, the indicator rounds to the nearest decimal point for the given precision. For example, an indicator with Precision 1 rounds a result of 4.45 as 4.5.
Unit	Unit for the automated metric definition. You can define the units in which the scores are shown. The most commonly used units are provided by default.
Nature	Nature of the automated metric definition. The choices are as follows:- None Leading: If the metric is an indicator of future events, select this option. For example, consider the number of sales that a store makes on new solar batteries. This number is a leading indicator for the support requests that the store may receive in the future. Lagging: If the metric is an indicator of past events, select this option. For example, consider the number of sales that a store has made in the previous year. This number is a lagging indicator for the support requests that the store has received in the past year. Current: If the metric is an indicator of the current state of the events, select this option. For example, consider the number of sales that a store has made in the current year. This number is an indicator of the current support requests received by the store.
Method
Table	Table that is queried for creating the metric definition. This field is automatically set.
Method Type	Type of automated metric. The choices are as follows:- Basic Scripted Note: If you select Scripted, you must save the form and select Add script to add your script. Only users with the sn_grc.developer role can add scripts.
Table	Table that is queried for creating the metric definition. This field is automatically set.
Criteria	Condition for the record from which a score is obtained. Build a filter by adding conditions that contain a field, operator, and values and then select Set.Note: Select a value for the Table field before modifying this field.
Aggregate	Method to aggregate the automated metric definition score. When an option is selected in the Aggregate field, a new Aggregation Field is displayed next to the Aggregate field. The Aggregation Field displays the selected record. The choices for the Aggregate field are as follows: Count: Count of the number of records that are rendered by the table query that is set in the filter criteria. Sum: Sum of the values of the parameters based on the selected value in the Aggregation Field. Average: Average of the values of the parameters based on the selected value in the Aggregation Field. Maximum: Maximum of the values of the parameters based on the selected value in the Aggregation Field. Minimum: Minimum of the values of the parameters based on the selected value in the Aggregation Field. Count Distinct: Number of groups in the result set that is grouped by the Aggregation Field. Note: The Aggregation Field is displayed for all the options except Count.
Reference field	Field based on which the metric data can be segregated. This field connects the entity to the selected scoring table and it calculates a score that is specific to an entity. Note: Ensure that the table that the reference field points to matches with the table of the records that the associated entities point to, through the Applies to field in the entity form. Note: It’s the user's responsibility to validate the criteria mentioned in the note as the system doesn’t validate it. Select a table before modifying this field.
Schedule
Calendar	Calendar to use for metric collection. Only the configured calendar options are available. This field is automatically set to Standard Calendar. Standard calendar refers to the Gregorian calendar. This field can be modified only if the metric definition for this metric doesn’t use the standard calendar.
Frequency	Collection frequency for the metric definition. This field is automatically set based on the frequency of the selected metric definition.
First run date	Date the metric is run the first time.
Due date offset	Number of days after the schedule end date when the metric data task becomes overdue. For example, if the frequency of a metric definition is monthly and if you enter `15` in this field, the due date for metric data task will be overdue 15 days after the month ends. This field only appears when the metric definition associated with the metric is of type Manual.
Next run date	Date when the metric is executed.
Period date	Start and end dates for the data collection period.
Create historical data	Option to generate metric definition data, metric data, and metric data tasks for past periods, starting from the Historical start date. After the records are created, this option is automatically cleared.
Historical start date	Date from which to generate historical metric definition data, metric data and metric data tasks. This field appears and is required when Create historical data is selected. The date must be in the past.
Data Collection Details
Data owner type	Data owner type, such as User.
Data owner	Name of the user as the data owner.
ApprovalNote: This section appears only when the Metric approval property is set to Simple. For more information see, Components installed with Operational Sustainability Management (formerly ESG Management).
Approval required	Option to indicate if an approval is required.
Approver type	Type of the approver of the metric definition. The choices are as follows:- User User group
User	Approver user or approver group responsible to approve the metric definition. The choices are as follows:- Approver: Displayed when the User option is selected. Approver group: Displayed when the User group option is selected. Note: By default, the approver is the user specified in the metric definition, but this can be overridden at the metric level.
Classification
Group	Area that the metric relates to.
Reporting classification	Tag used to categorize the metric.
Subgroup	Subgroup that the metric relates to.
Confidentiality
Note: This section only appears when: The sn_grc.enable_record_confidentiality property is enabled under GRC properties. The record is in Draft state.
Allowed users	Users who can view the record.Note: By default, the logged in user is added to the list of confidential users.
Allowed groups	Groups that can view the record.

4. Select **Save**.

**Note:** After a new metric is created, the related lists along with the **Details** tab are displayed on the form. You can view the metric data overview in the **Overview** tab. The Metrics overview page displays the metrics data details when you execute a metric along with the duration for which the data is collected.

Result

The metric is saved in the Metrics list.

Parent Topic:Configuring GRC: Metrics

Related topics

Historical data generation for metrics

title	Create a metric
description	Create a metric to perform calculations on your data.
locale	en-US
canonical_url	https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/environmental-social-governance/create-a-metric.html
release	brazil
topic_type	task
last_updated	2026-09-25
reading_time_minutes	7
breadcrumb	{"Configuring GRC":"Metrics"}{"GRC":"Metrics"}Operational Sustainability Management \(formerly EnvironmentalSocialand Governance\)