---
sourceDocument: Australia Strategic Portfolio Management
sourceDocumentLink: https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/r/it-business-management

 Release :

    - australia

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Australia Strategic Portfolio Management

ft:clusterId :

    - itbm

bundleId :

    - itbm

workflow :

    - Technology


---

# Automatic status calculation for targets

# Automatic status calculation for targets {#ariaid-title1}

Release version: Australia  
Updated September 1, 2026  
![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 4 minutes to read
Summarize  
![AI sparkle icon](https://servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ai-sparkle-icon) Summarized using AI  
This content was generated using new OpenAI-powered functionality. Results are provided on an as is basis and are not guaranteed to be accurate or complete.  

## Summary of Automatic status calculation for targets

Automatic status calculation for targets in ServiceNow automatically determines the status (Green, Yellow, Red) of targets based on actual achievement percentages compared to planned targets and predefined thresholds.
This feature eliminates the need for manual status updates, reduces data entry errors, and enhances governance and portfolio visibility by providing real-time status updates as actual values are entered.
Show full answer Show less  

## Key Features

* **Achievement Calculation:** Uses standardized formulas to calculate achievement percentages based on whether the target aims to maximize (e.g., revenue) or minimize (e.g., costs) performance.
* **Threshold-Based Status Assignment:** Default thresholds assign status as Green (≥90%), Yellow (75--89%), or Red (\<75%), with customizable thresholds via system property `sngfa.target.autostatus.thresholds`.
* **Status Calculation Scenarios:** Supports targets without breakdowns, targets with breakdowns (check-ins), and targets without check-in frequencies, applying the same formulas and thresholds appropriately.
* **Milestone Targets:** Qualitative progress targets use manual status assignment with only Green or Red statuses, reflecting progress against maturity stages.
* **Manual Override:** Target owners can override calculated status for business reasons, with automatic recalculation triggered by subsequent actual value updates.
* **Automatic Status Rollup:** Status rolls up through portfolio hierarchy layers (Breakdown → Target → Goal → Parent Goal) using latest-wins or worst-wins logic to reflect overall portfolio health accurately.
* **Custom Status Values:** Allows application of custom statuses alongside automatic calculations for additional business context.

## Key Outcomes

* Consistent and objective status assignment across targets and portfolios, reducing subjective judgment and manual errors.
* Improved real-time visibility into target achievement and portfolio health, enabling better decision-making and prioritization.
* Flexible management of target statuses with options for manual overrides and custom statuses while maintaining automated calculation benefits.
* Clear signaling of at-risk or underperforming targets that propagate through portfolio levels to alert leadership promptly.  
Automatically determine status for targets consequently rolling up to goals based on achievement percentages. Status is calculated when you enter actual values and achievement of actuals compared to the planned target against
predefined thresholds (Green, Yellow, Red).

## What is automatic status calculation? {#automatic-status-calculation-targets__section_jqv_vhk_lkc}

When you enter actual values for a target period or a target breakdown, the system compares actual achievement against planned targets. The comparison uses predefined thresholds to automatically assign a status (Green, Yellow, or
Red). This eliminates manual status selection, reduces data entry errors, and improves organizational governance.

Key benefits:

* Eliminates manual status selection for every target entry
* Ensures consistent status assignment across the portfolio
* Reduces subjective judgment and data entry mistakes
* Provides real-time status updates as actual values are entered
* Supports better portfolio visibility and decision-making
{#automatic-status-calculation-targets__ul_kqv_vhk_lkc}

## How status is calculated {#automatic-status-calculation-targets__section_lqv_vhk_lkc}

The system calculates target achievement percentage using a standardized formula that accounts for the start value (baseline) and planned target. The formula application depends on whether your target is designed to maximize or minimize performance:

Maximize targets (Revenue, growth, performance)

:   For targets where higher values are better, use the standard achievement formula:

        Achievement % = ((Actual to date − Start Value) ÷ (Final target value − Start Value)) × 100

    **Example:** Revenue target from $1M (start) to $1.5M (Final target), actuals achieved $1.35M = 70% achievement

Minimize targets (Costs, defects, risk)

:   For targets where lower values are better, the formula inverts to measure reduction:

        Achievement % = ((Start Value − Actuals to date) ÷ (Start Value − Final target value)) × 100

    **Example:** Cost reduction from $500K (start) to $400K (final target), actuals achieved $420K = 80% achievement

The resulting achievement percentage is compared against configured thresholds to assign status:
{#automatic-status-calculation-targets__table_gfw_xhk_lkc__entry__3}

| Status | Default Threshold | Meaning |
|-|-|-|
| Green | 90% or higher | Target is on track or exceeded |
| Yellow | 75--89% | Target is at risk; achievement below expectations |
| Red | Less than 75% | Target is significantly behind; immediate action needed |
[Table 1. Default thresholds]

{#automatic-status-calculation-targets__table_gfw_xhk_lkc}

Administrators can customize threshold percentages to align with organizational governance policies and risk tolerance. Use the system property sn_gfa.target.auto_status.thresholds to adjust
values.

**System property configuration:**

    {"enabled": true, "thresholds": {"green": 90, "yellow": 75}}

For instructions on system property configuration, see [Configure automatic status calculation for targets](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/U50M39s6H78QKwnaNX4xiQ "Configure system-wide automatic status calculation settings to determine target and goal status automatically based on achievement percentages. Enable or disable automatic calculation and customize Green, Yellow, and Red threshold values to align with your organizational governance policies.").

## Status calculation scenarios {#automatic-status-calculation-targets__section_nqv_vhk_lkc}

Status calculation applies to three target configurations:

* **Targets without breakdowns:** Status is calculated once based on overall actual performance against the Final target value
* **Targets with breakdowns (check-ins):** Status is calculated for each check-in period (weekly, monthly, quarterly) based on that period's achievement
* **Targets without check-in frequency:** Status is calculated based on direct actuals without period-based accumulation

{#automatic-status-calculation-targets__ul_oqv_vhk_lkc}

In all scenarios, the same achievement formula and thresholds apply. The difference is in how actual values are entered and aggregated across time periods. For more details on how the status is calculated for different scenarios, see [Status calculation specifications and examples](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/Ctv3tDTuQK6MjRn7IQIGHg "Detailed specifications for status calculation across different target types, calculation formulas for targets with and without breakdowns, and worked examples demonstrating status assignment and rollup mechanics.").

## Milestone targets {#automatic-status-calculation-targets__section_tqv_vhk_lkc}

Milestone targets track qualitative progress against defined maturity levels (e.g., Planning, Execution, Delivery, Launch) instead of using numeric formulas. Status is assigned manually based on whether current progress matches the
defined milestone stage. Examples: project readiness, capability maturity, process implementation.

Milestone targets support only two status values:

* **Green:** Current progress matches or exceeds the defined milestone stage
* **Red:** Current progress lags behind or does not match the defined milestone stage

{#automatic-status-calculation-targets__ul_gq3_nzn_lkc}

Yellow status is not available for milestone targets. Though not automatically calculated, milestone targets still roll up through the portfolio hierarchy using worst-wins logic and contribute to overall portfolio health.

## Manual override {#automatic-status-calculation-targets__section_tqv_vhk_lkd}

Target owners can override the automatically calculated status values for a target breakdown, target, or goal when business circumstances require a different assessment. When you manually override a status:

* The manually selected status displays in place of the calculated status
* If you update the actual value after a manual override, the system recalculates the status automatically based on the new achievement percentage
* The recalculated status may differ from your previous manual selection

{#automatic-status-calculation-targets__ul_uqv_vhk_lkc}

Manual override provides flexibility while maintaining the ability to recalculate based on new data.

## Automatic status rollup {#automatic-status-calculation-targets__section_vqv_vhk_lkc}

Status automatically rolls up through three layers of the portfolio hierarchy:

1. **Breakdown → Target:** Status rolls up from individual check-ins to the target level. The rollup logic depends on the breakdown type:  
   * **Cumulative breakdowns:** Status uses *latest-wins* logic. The most recent period's status determines the target status.
   * **Non-cumulative breakdowns:** Status uses *worst-wins* logic. The lowest-performing period's status determines the target status.
   {#automatic-status-calculation-targets__ul_td1_kx4_lkc}
2. **Target → Goal:** Status rolls up from targets to goals using a *worst-wins* logic. The lowest-performing target status determines the goal status.
3. **Goal → Parent goal:** Status rolls up from goals through parent goals using *worst-wins* logic.

{#automatic-status-calculation-targets__ol_wqv_vhk_lkc}

This three-layer cascade ensures portfolio leaders see a true picture of execution health. A red target immediately propagates as a red signal at the portfolio level, prioritizing attention on at-risk initiatives.

## Custom status values {#automatic-status-calculation-targets__section_xqv_vhk_lkc}

In addition to automatic Green/Yellow/Red status, target owners can apply custom status values to reflect business context that the achievement formula may not capture. Custom statuses are retained even when automatic calculation is
re-enabled, allowing manual judgment to coexist with system-driven calculations.
**Related concepts**   

* [Status calculation specifications and examples](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/Ctv3tDTuQK6MjRn7IQIGHg "Detailed specifications for status calculation across different target types, calculation formulas for targets with and without breakdowns, and worked examples demonstrating status assignment and rollup mechanics.")  
**Related tasks**   

* [Configure automatic status calculation for targets](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/U50M39s6H78QKwnaNX4xiQ "Configure system-wide automatic status calculation settings to determine target and goal status automatically based on achievement percentages. Enable or disable automatic calculation and customize Green, Yellow, and Red threshold values to align with your organizational governance policies.")