While OMB gives the hierarchy names and descriptions (for the first three hierarchy levels) for the Performance Reference Model in their PDF documentation, the OMB XML Reference Model file does not include the PRM definitions or hierarchy any level. For the fourth hierarchy level, Operational Measurement Indicator, OMB leaves it to the agencies to define both the names and definitions that they feel are most appropriate.
Note The instructions on this page are provided as part of a tutorial for iRMA. For overall help on creating the PRM Reference Model diagram, and using it to align your architecture with the PRM and publish reports, Using the Performance Reference Model.
To use the diagram hierarchy utility to create a Reference Model hierarchy, you must first create a blank diagram of the appropriate Reference Model Type so that you can provide the Build Diagram Hierarchy utility with a starting point at the top of the hierarchy.
1 Right-click Diagrams in the Encyclopedia Explorer, and then click New.
2 Double‑click Performance Reference Model.
3 Provide a name for the new diagram, for example, “Performance Reference Model Hierarchy”, and click OK.
4 Select the PRM symbol from the diagram toolbar and put one on the diagram. By default it is named PRM_1; you can name it PRM, or anything that you like. This symbol (and its underlying definition) will serve as the top of the PRM hierarchy that you will automatically build, so it makes most sense to name it “PRM”.
5 Double-click the symbol to open its definition (or right-click and choose Edit).
6 Click Choices for Child Measurement Areas. to open the Select and Drag dialog box.
The Select and Drag dialog lists all Measurement Area definitions already populated in the repository. These were brought into the repository when you imported the latest FEA XML document (see Importing the OMB reference models).
Note You had to create a parent PRM symbol because the OMB XML doesn't provide a final parent for the Measurement Areas.
7 Select all of the Measurement Area definitions in the Select and Drag dialog, and drag and drop them into the Child Measurement Areas property field of the PRM definition.
8 Close the Select and Drag window, and then click OK to close the PRM definition.
9 Select the PRM symbol on the diagram workspace, and choose Tools > iRMA Utilities > Build Diagram Hierarchy.
The diagram will be built symbol-by-symbol until no more child instances are found. Depending on your computer’s speed, this can take several minutes or longer.
Changing the layout of the hierarchy
When the diagram is completely built, you can choose to display the hierarchy vertically, horizontally, or in block format.
1 Right-click the top symbol of the hierarchy (that is, the PRM symbol) and then click Arrange Children Horizontally, Arrange Children Vertically, or Arrange Children as a Block.
2 You can choose any symbol of the hierarchy and perform the same commands to lay out its children horizontally, vertically, or as a block.