Date: 2025-03-14 Page is: DBtxt003.php txt00011545
Metrics
IRIS
IRIS 3.0 Component Field Descriptions
Burgess COMMENTARY
Peter Burgess
IRIS 3.0 Component Field Descriptions
A number of new components were added to the metrics in IRIS 3.0 to provide greater clarity around the intended use and definition of each metric. The table below provides a description of each component field in IRIS 3.0.
Component field
Description
ID
The unique IRIS ID associated with a specific IRIS metric.
Section
'A primary categorization of each IRIS metric. The IRIS metrics are organized in a framework that includes 5 core sections:
- - Organization Description: metrics that focus on the organization’s mission, operational model, and location
- - Product Description: metrics that describe the organization’s products and services, and target markets
- - Financial Performance: commonly reported financial metrics
- - Operational Impact: metrics that describe the organization’s policies, employees, and environmental performance
- - Product Impact: metrics that describe the performance and reach of the organization's products and services
Subsection
A more detailed categorization of each IRIS metric. There are 21 subsections in total in IRIS 3.0, ranging from Client Information to Environmental Performance.
Sector
'A categorization of each metric across one of the following ten sectors:
- - Agriculture
- - Education
- - Energy
- - Environment
- - Financial Services
- - Land Conservation
- - Health
- - Housing/Community Facilities
- - Water
- - Cross-Sector
Metric Name
The name of the metric.
Definition
The definition of the metric. Please note that bolded words are glossary terms that can be found in the glossary tab.
Calculation
An outline of the relevant mathematical calculation, if the metric requires a calculation or formula. Some formulas will be based on other IRIS metrics and will be clearly indicated as such.
Usage Guidance
Additional information beyond the details and description provided in the metric definition. This may include considerations related to aggregating data for this metric, recommended sources for supplementary information pertaining to the metric, clarification of the metric calculation and intended usage, among others. This is a dynamic field and the IRIS initiative welcomes feedback on how to further develop this for each metric.
Citation
The citation that should be used in public materials when providing data related to the specific metric.
Metric Type
'Specifies whether a particular metric is a 'metric' or 'submetric'. The information captured by a 'submetric' is related to the information captured by its parent 'metric' For example, Client Individuals: Female (submetric) captures a subset of what is captured under its parent Client Individuals: Total (metric).
Please note that submetrics are not mutually exclusive. For example, individuals reported as part of Client Individuals: Female (submetric) may also be reported as part of Client Individuals: Rural (submetric). '
Related Metrics
'A list of the IRIS metric and submetrics that relate to the specific metric being reviewed. (See Metric Type for more information)
Please note that submetrics are not mutually exclusive.
For example, individuals reported as part of Client Individuals: Female (submetric) may also be reported as part of Client Individuals: Rural (submetric). '
Metric Level
Specifies whether the metric captures information at the organization, product/service level or both. IRIS metrics can be used to differentiate between values that apply to specific products/services offered by the organization and values that apply to the organization as a whole. In instances where a metric can be used to describe either a product or the organization, organizations are encouraged to indicate the level at which they are reporting information.
Metric Quantity Type
'Specifies whether the quantity captured in the metric is a stock or a flow.
- - Stock: Metrics that capture information and data at a specified point in time. The majority of stock metrics ask for information reported as of the end of a reporting period.
- - Flow: Metrics that capture information and data measured over an interval of time. The majority of flow metrics ask for information based on activities over the course of a reporting period.
Reporting Format
The format for reporting against the specific metric. Examples of reporting formats include: hectares, number of days, number of people. Some metrics such as currency and unit of measure refer to specific sets of option values (which are described in specific IRIS metrics) and it is requested that users indicate which option is used.