Value Realization Analytics

Measure how much forecasted value has been realized, decompose variance by driver, and attribute outcomes to specific initiatives. Value Realization Analytics answer the critical question: "Did we achieve the value we promised?"

Who this is for

End User Admin Executive

Prerequisites

• An approved business case converted to realization tracking.
• Baselines and at least one period of actuals entered.
• Reviewed Core Concepts: Value Realization.

Step-by-step instructions

1. Open Value Realization Analytics

1. Navigate to Analytics → Realization.
2. Select the portfolio, account, or initiative to analyze.

2. Review realization rate

The top KPI panel shows:

KPI	Formula	Interpretation
Realization Rate	realized value / forecasted value * 100	100% means on target; above 100% means over-performing
Variance	actual - forecast	Positive is favorable; negative is unfavorable
Attribution	Driver-level contribution to total realized value	Shows which initiatives and drivers delivered

3. Decompose variance

1. Open the Variance Decomposition chart.
2. Each bar represents a value driver.
3. Green bars show positive variance (actual exceeded forecast).
4. Red bars show negative variance (actual fell short).
5. Hover over a bar to see the absolute and percentage contribution.

4. Inspect attribution

1. Open the Attribution Table.
2. See which business cases and value drivers contributed most to the realized total.
3. Sort by realized value, variance, or confidence.
4. Click any row to open the source business case.

5. Drill to evidence

1. Click any driver in the variance chart.
2. The system opens the Evidence tab for that driver.
3. Verify the data source and audit trail for the actual value.

6. Export for reporting

1. Click Export Summary to download a PDF.
2. The export includes:
3. Realization rate trend
4. Variance decomposition chart
5. Attribution table
6. Evidence reference list

Warning: Negative variance is not always bad

Under-forecasting can produce positive surprises. Always inspect the driver-level decomposition before labeling an initiative as failing. A negative variance on a cost driver may actually be favorable if costs were lower than expected.

Permissions required

Role	Permission	Scope
User	View / Enter actuals	Assigned initiatives
Admin	Edit baselines / Reallocate attribution / Configure periods	Tenant-wide
Executive	View / Export	Portfolio

Limits and guardrails

Limit Attribution models are recalculated nightly. Limit Variance decomposition requires at least 2 periods of actuals. Limit Realization summaries are retained for 36 months.

Troubleshooting

Issue: Realization rate exceeds 100%

Cause: Actuals were entered incorrectly, or the forecast was conservative. Resolution: Verify actuals in the Realization Plan tab. If the forecast was intentionally conservative, document the rationale in the value model notes.

Issue: Attribution table shows gaps

Cause: An initiative was deleted or its business case was not linked to realization tracking. Resolution: Re-link the business case using Convert to Value Realization on the case detail page. Wait for the next nightly recalculation.

Issue: Variance decomposition sums to more than total variance

Cause: Rounding or interaction effects between drivers. Resolution: This is expected in multi-driver models. Use the attribution table for exact numbers.

Issue: Realization rate drops after a forecast update

Cause: The forecast was revised upward, making the same actuals represent a lower percentage. Resolution: Review the forecast change history in Governance → Traces and communicate the revision to stakeholders.

Related pages

• Tracking Benefits
• Trend Analysis
• Forecast Analytics
• Core Concepts: Value Realization
• Core Concepts: Actuals

Escalation path

For attribution calculation errors or missing realization links, open a support ticket with severity P3.