Improving profit: using contribution metrics to boost the bottom line

Abstract

Business of all sizes have a problem: How do you know-in real time-whether you are earning the profit you need to grow or even just stay in business? And which products or services are doing the "heavy lifting" in contributing to profit? Financial statements tell only part of the story. They are backward looking, for one thing, and they generally show results only in the aggregate. Worse, they never seem to reflect the hard work you're doing on a daily basis. As one manager said, "If I'm adding 25% profit to every job, why am I getting barely 5% net profit at the end of the year?" Improving Pr