Network Operations "Metrics"

[Pete Kruckenberg <pete () kruckenberg com>]

CEO's are judged by their company's profitability, long-term
growth, efficiency, etc. Students are judged based on
quizes, reports, mid-terms and finals. The economy is
tracked by tracking individual sectors, quarter-to-quarter
and year-over-year performance, unemployment, interest
rates, etc.

What metrics are used to measure networks and network
operators?

What "micro" measurements (the equivalent of tracking travel
expenses or cost-of-sales to ensure overall profitability)  
are used to ensure good macro-level (up-time, network 
reliability, application performance, happy customers)?

What systems/processes do you use to track all of this 
information, and associate it to overall business success?

Thanks.
Pete.