What is the primary purpose of defining performance measures?

The primary purpose of defining performance measures is to ensure that systems meet operational needs and expectations. Performance measures provide a clear framework for assessing how well a system is performing against predefined criteria, helping stakeholders understand if the system fulfills its intended functions and delivers the required outcomes.

By explicitly defining what success looks like through performance measures, systems engineers and project managers can benchmark progress, identify areas for improvement, and make informed decisions based on relevant data. This focus on aligning the system's performance with operational requirements is essential for achieving overall mission success.

While other choices reflect important aspects of system development and management, they do not directly capture the crucial role of performance measures in validating a system's effectiveness in meeting user needs. Budget forecasts, user feedback, and governance are all vital to the overall lifecycle of a system, but they do not specifically emphasize the assessment of a system's performance in relation to its operational purpose.