Understanding Drill Dimensions

BACKGROUND:

Performance Matters Plus takes advantage of data elements found in WIASRD, LEPR and TAPR or WISPR file formats. These data elements are data dimensions within the Performance Matters system, allowing users to filter or isolate dimension elements for analysis. There are lots of dimensions within the system and they are not limited by what the WIASRD, LEPR, TAPR, or WISPR formats provide. Customize dimensions are possible if additional data elements are provided to the FutureWork Systems team, such as Zip Code, Case Manager Name, etc.

WHAT IS A DIMENSION?

A dimension is information about a specific data element in the system and should be thought of as a basic building block when building or modifying views. There are over 100 dimensions in Performance Matters Plus that are summarized and grouped in the following categories, followed by a detailed listing of each Dimension.

  1. LOCATION – this dimension includes all locations in your hierarchy. ALL LOCATIONS is the entire database that is further broken down based on your organization. For a typical state, this dimension would include:

    All Locations

    + LWIA 1

    + One Stop Centers

    -Center 1

    -Center 2

    + Youth Providers

    -Provider 1

    - Provider 2

    + LWIA 2

    etc.

  2. FUND CODE – This Dimension provides the funding code for participants such as adult local, youth local, NEG, Statewide
  3. DATE – This Dimension includes the timeframes for all activity in the system. The system includes Program Year, Quarter of a Program Year, and for flow data, is further broken down by month.
  4. PARTNER PROGRAMS – This Dimension includes all partner programs required by WIA and allows tracking activity and outcomes by participants co-enrolled in one or more partner program.
  5. CHARACTERISTICS – This Dimension includes all of the characteristics of participants enrolled in the system, most of this data is collected at the date of participation.
  6. IN-PROGRAM SERVICES & ACTIVITIES – This dimension includes all of the allowable services and activities provided to adult, dislocated workers and youth while enrolled in the program.
  7. FLOW MEASURES – This Dimension includes data on new, currently enrolled and exited participants.
  8. FLOW DESCRIPTORS – This Dimension include information on the “days” in program and days in selected activities.
  9. OUTCOME MEASURES – This Dimension includes information on the performance outcomes after individuals exit the program.
  10. OUTCOME DESCRIPTORS – This Dimension includes information that provides more detail on outcomes such as type of credential, type of wage match, & school status at exit.

HOW ARE DIMENSIONS USED WHEN BUILDING & MODYFYING VIEWS?

One key to building or modifying views is to understand that only when a dimension in “ON GRID”, can all or some of sub-dimension values be displayed. When a dimension is not on-grid, you can only filter the view by one sub-dimension.

Example: If Limited English is “ON-GRID” you can display results by those that are “Limited English” and those that are not “limited English”. If the limited English dimension is not “ON-GRID”, you can only filter any view for those that are Limited English and filter a second time for those the are not Limited English. The same is true of Outcome Measures, Locations, Partner Programs and Dates; they must be “ON GRID” for a view to display more than one Outcome Measure, Location, Partner Program or Date.

All views on Performance Matters Plus allow users to open the Dimension Controller and add, delete or “stack” dimensions to an existing view.