One of our critical Scorecard metrics has been red for five consecutive weeks, but the metric owner refuses to drop it down to the Issues List, repeatedly claiming "I am working on it" and "it will be green next week." How do we handle this resistance?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

When a metric is red for more than two weeks, it is no longer just a trend; it is an issue that requires the collective brainpower of the leadership team. Allowing a leader to hide behind the phrase I am working on it is a failure of leadership team accountability. It shows a misunderstanding of what the Issues List is for: it is not a list of failures, but a tool for mutual support.

The Integrator must enforce a hard rule: any metric that is red for two consecutive weeks must automatically be dropped down to the Issues List. The metric owner does not have a choice in this matter.

Frame this rule as a supportive boundary, not a punishment. The purpose of bringing a red metric to IDS® is to identify the root cause of the block and help the owner get it back on track. It may be that they lack the resources, there is a bottleneck in another department, or the target number itself is unrealistic. By making the escalation automatic, you remove the personal stigma and defensiveness associated with red numbers, ensuring that your weekly meeting pulse remains focused on proactive problem-solving.