Information technology (IT) performance management is the process of using computers to measure performance levels to assess how well IT resources are working. This is often used in business and operations. In business, IT performance management focuses on making better use of money and lowering costs, while operations is focused on finding weak components and strengthening the entire system. Regardless of the context, there are four types of IT performance management metrics: network, software, business transaction management (BTM) and self-learning. By recording and checking these metrics, IT professionals can improve how IT resources are being used.
When IT performance management is used on a computer or network of computers, the administrator or administrators are looking to see how the resources are used, to see if there is any way to improve the network. There are two contexts, one being for business. In the business context, administrators are looking to focus resources on sales and reducing costs, and releasing IT projects that are not living up to their expectations.
In the operations context of IT performance management, it does not matter how the network is doing for the business. This context is about focusing all resources on making computer operations more powerful. Any failing components are located and isolated or deleted so the network can use those resources on other functions. History about usage and workload also is recorded, so administrators know where most of the resources are allocated, and they can optimize their allocation.
Regardless of the context, there are four methods to IT performance management. In the network method, the network is analyzed to see how it uses resources. The network also will be placed in artificial environments to see how it would react to theoretical situations. In the software method, programs are checked to ensure they are meeting workflow requirements and that end-user expectations are met.
The self-learning method of IT performance management focuses on creating codes and formulas so the network can self-diagnose its resource allocation. For example, if resources are being used poorly on a program, the network will learn to stop allocating the same resources, and will push those resources onto other functions. BTM is the only one that leans more toward the business context, because this is about monitoring transactions, but data transactions also can be monitored for the operations context. This checks the resources used during transactions to ensure they are smooth for the system and on the users and customers.