Scales define the measurement levels used throughout Tenacy: gap criticality, incident severity, risk rating, and the compliance level recorded during an evaluation. This article explains where to find them, how to create or adapt one, and how to change the scale applied to an object.
What is each scale type for?
In the Cogwheel ⚙️ > Scales, scales are split into tabs according to the object they measure. Each type has a different impact:
Indicator: determines how an indicator is displayed depending on its value, in particular its color and its rendering in dashboards.
Evaluation: defines the response levels available when evaluating a policy, what is expected at each level (action, measure, comment, proof) and the resulting score.
Risk: used to rate risks (for example likelihood and impact) and feeds their severity level.
Priority: sets the priority levels. It applies to actions (consistent prioritization across all action plans) and to policies (priority levels applicable to requirements).
Weather: lets you define the icons and colors of the weather displays for projects and action registers in dashboards.
Business Value: used to rate the business values that serve as the basis for risk analysis.
Understanding a scale and its levels
A scale is an ordered list of levels. Each level has a value, a color, an icon and a name. The scale's identifier is the technical key used to associate it with an object (gap, exemption, indicator, risk, etc.).
Each level has a lower bound and an upper bound. They can be identical (e.g. 50-50) or different (e.g. 20-39), and levels do not have to be contiguous: a scale can have gaps.
Scales used in evaluations
For scales used in an evaluation, the configuration of each level determines what is expected in the response. For a given level, you can define:
When creating or editing the scale
Action association: forbidden, possible or mandatory
Measure association: forbidden, possible or mandatory
When creating the campaign:
Comment: always possible, optionally mandatory
Proof: always possible, optionally mandatory (file or URL)
The score obtained in an evaluation depends directly on the bounds of the selected level:
Identical bounds (e.g. 25-25): the score is fixed and equals the bound. Answering at this level always gives 25.
Different bounds (e.g. 20-39): a 0-100% progress bar appears to refine the value. The score is calculated proportionally, rounded to the nearest integer. A 50% progress on a 20-39 level gives a score of 30.
💡 A scale whose levels have a lower value equal to the upper value (like the public Compliance scale) does not ask for any detail on a requirement's compliance level: the score is directly the one of the chosen level. Conversely, a scale with different bounds displays the 0-100% bar when answering.
Where to find the scales?
Go to the Cogwheel ⚙️ > Scales.
Create a scale
First select the object for which you are creating the scale (for example Indicators), then click the Add a scale button. Then fill in the configuration:
Name: the name of your scale
Identifier: generated automatically if you leave it empty
Description
Levels: for each level, set the value, color, icon and a name. You can add as many levels as needed.
⚠️ If you configure a scale intended for the evaluation of a policy, the configuration of its levels directly influences the expected responses and the resulting score. Check the bounds and the requirements (action, measure, comment, proof) of each level before using it.
Copy and edit a public scale
🔎 Public scales cannot be edited directly, but you can use them as templates by copying and editing them.
To keep the base modeling of a public scale while adapting it (adding a level, changing a name, a color), copy it. Once the copy is created, freely modify its levels, colors and values just as you would for a scale created from scratch.
Change the scale applied to an object
To change the scale used by a type of object (for example the criticality of your gaps), go to the Cogwheel ⚙️ > Preferences. Managing preferences is only possible if you are a global pilot.
In the search bar, enter the key of the relevant preference, for example exemption.criticality_scale (or search for "scale" to get the list of all scale-related preferences). Click the line, then fill in the Value.
The value corresponds to the scale's identifier. You must therefore enter the identifier of the new scale you want to apply.
🚫 This change is global: modifying the gap criticality scale updates the scale for all gaps already created, not just new ones. If in doubt, contact support before confirming.
💡 The principle is the same for exemptions, incidents, risks, etc.: the change is always made by entering the new scale identifier in the corresponding preference.
🔎 To find the list of preferences and their identifier keys, see: Tenacy preferences glossary.
Frequently asked questions
Can I edit a public scale?
No. Public scales are read-only. Copy it first, then edit the copy.
What happens if I change an object's scale in the preferences?
The change applies to the entire environment: all objects already created with the old scale switch to the new one. It is not limited to new objects.
Why does a 0-100% bar sometimes appear during an evaluation?
It appears when the chosen level has a lower bound different from its upper bound. The score is then calculated proportionally to the progress. If both bounds are identical, the score is fixed and no bar is displayed.
Do a scale's levels have to follow one another without interruption?
No. Evaluation scales can have gaps between levels; value continuity is not required.