To help track and manage data collection for an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Program's values, you can add metrics to their respective topics. Each ESG topic can include multiple metrics; for example, a Scope 1 emissions topic may include multiple metrics to track values based on emission sources, such as Stationary combustion, Mobile combustion, and Refrigerants.
Step 1. Add the metric
Tip: To quickly add a metric, you can duplicate a metric already on the topic, such as to start with the same framework references, program tags, or request details.
- From ESG Program, add the metric from either the outline or its topic:
- From the outline, select the metric's topic, then click Insert outline item, Metric, and select the new metric.
- From the topic, click Add metric to create a new metric from scratch.
- If the topic already has a metric similar to the one to add, select Duplicate from that metric's menu.
Note: If you duplicate a metric with a connected source spreadsheet, the new metric's value will need its own connected cell. A spreadsheet cell can connect to only one metric.
- From the outline, select the metric's topic, then click Insert outline item, Metric, and select the new metric.
- To help identify the new metric, double-click and edit its name.
Step 2. Enter the metric's details
In Metric details, provide information about the metric:
- To provide additional context about the metric, enter a description.
Tip: From the metric's menu, you can select to show or hide its description, such as to remove an empty field or only view lengthy content on-demand.
- In Related ESG content, specify the ESG Explorer content the metric aligns with, such as specific framework disclosures and standards.
- In Program tags, select any additional information your organization tracks for its ESG metrics.
- In Reference attachments, upload any files about the overall metric, such as reporting guidelines or example formulas.
Step 3. Configure the metric's values
A metric can collect a single annual value, or multiple values throughout the year or based on a custom dimension.
Tip: From the Configure metric panel, Workspace Owners can set up custom dimensions to collect multiple values for the same metric, such as for different locations, business units, or demographics.
From the Configure metric panel, set up the type of values to collect.
- From the metric, click Configure metric.
- In Collection frequency, select how often to collect the metric's values — Yearly, Biannually, Quarterly, or Monthly.
- In Value type, select the type of data to collect for the metric:
- Number, such as for a quantitative value or measurement
- Currency, for a monetary amount
- Percent, for a percentage or rate
- Text, such as for a qualitative response
- Date, such as for time-based data
- For a Number, Currency, or Percent, select its unit of measurement.
- In Metric dimensions, select any custom dimension to base data collection on.
To learn more, view Configure an ESG Program metric's data collection
Step 4. Assign data collection
To enable data collection of the metric's values, specify workspace members to prepare and verify the metric's values — through a connected source file or Workiva Tasks — for each collection period.
Note: To use the Data Collection spreadsheet as a value's source, first refresh its incoming connections to include the new metric in its Source section.
If the metric collects a single value for collection period, assign its members in Metric assignment.
- In Assignee and Task due, select the member to collect the value, and set their due date.
- To verify the value collected:
- To have a single member verify the value, select them in Approver and their due date in Approval due.
- To have multiple members verify the value, select Multiple approvers in Approver, and set up their approval steps.
- In Instructions, enter any guidance to help the assignee and approver complete their tasks, such as:
- Details about the value or data to collect
- Any related framework-specific guidance
- The context of the value's narrative in the reporting output
If the metric has a dimension applied, set up each dimensional value's assignment for the collection period.
Tip: To assign multiple values to the same assignee and approvers, select the values in Metric value, and click Edit values.
- From the value's menu, select Edit details.
- In Assignee and Task due, select the member to collect and prepare the value, and their due date.
- To verify the value collected:
- To have a single member verify the value, select them in Approver and their due date in Approval due.
- To have multiple members verify the value, select Multiple approvers in Approver, and set up their approval steps.
- In Instructions, enter any guidance to help the assignee and approver complete their tasks, such as:
- Details about the value or data to collect
- Any related framework-specific guidance
- The context of the value's narrative in the reporting output
- To set up the assignment for another value, click Next or Back to its details.
- After you assign the metric's values, click Close.
Step 5. Set up data collection
To collect a metric's values, you can:
- Enter them directly in the metric, such as if you want ESG Program to be the source of truth.
- Pull them from connected source files, such as a data collection spreadsheet or policy document.
- Request workspace members to collect and approve them through Workiva Tasks.
You can collect a single value for a time period or multiple values based on a selected dimension.
For a metric with no custom dimension, set up data collection for a single value for the period.
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Enter, connect, or request the value:
- To enter the value directly in the metric, enter it in Value.
- To pull the value from a source spreadsheet or document, click Connect to source file, then select the value's source file and section, and connect the value's cell or content.
- To request the assignee collect the value through Workiva Tasks, leave Value empty, and don't connect a source file.
- In Metric notes, enter any general information about the value, such as additional context for the report's narrative or to appear as a footnote.
- In Supporting attachments, upload any files that support the value, such as utility bills, calculations, or other evidence.
For a metric with a custom dimension, set up data collection for each dimensional value for the period:
In Value, enter, connect, or request the value:
- To enter the value directly in the metric, enter it in Value.
- To pull the value from a source spreadsheet or document, select the value in Metric value, and click Edit value.
In Value, click Connect to source file, then select the value's source file and section, connect the value's cell or content, and click Close. - To request the assignee collect the value through Workiva Tasks, leave Value empty, and don't connect a source file.
If you enter a value directly in the metric, provide any supplemental material in Supporting:
- Click Notes to enter any general information about the value, such as additional context for the report's narrative or to appear as a footnote.
- Click Supporting attachments to upload any files that support the value, such as utility bills, calculations, or other evidence.
To learn more, view Collect values for ESG Program metrics.
Step 6. Send data collection tasks
After you set up the metric, send tasks to its assignees:
- To send tasks to only the metric's assignees, click Send task on the metric or value.
- To send tasks to the assignees for all of the topic's metrics that are ready for data collection, click Send tasks on the topic.