Metrics help business strategies become a reality, and allow stakeholder performance to be evaluated. Characteristics of successful metrics include cascading the effects, balancing the use of leading and lagging metrics, and streamline the number of metrics used. Shareholder value creation can be measured in multiple ways: return of assets and return on equity are commonly used, but are not great at predicting short-term results, are based on historical measures, and do not evaluate risk. Value per share addresses the flaws of ROE and ROA, and getting an independent valuation performed is a good idea to avoid bias. Shareholder value creation depends on current cash-flow, long-term growth rate, and risk-adjusted discount rate, with the latter two being the most important for business growth. The risk-adjusted discount rate is the cost of capital, and is composed of financial and business risks. As part of a business plan, management should identify metrics with target outcomes, and base the targets off of what will increase shareholder value creation. Metrics are a useful tool for management, and used correctly can help produce results from a proposed business strategy.