Book excerpt: Application performance management, or APM, refers to the discipline within systems management that focuses on monitoring and managing the performance and service availability of software applications. APM can be defined as process and use of related IT tools to detect, diagnose, remedy and report application's performance to ensure that it meets or exceeds end-users' and businesses' expectations. Application performance relates to how fast transactions are completed on behalf of, or information is delivered to the end user by the application via a particular network, application and/or web services infrastructure. This book is your ultimate resource for Application Performance Monitoring. Here you will find the most up-to-date information, analysis, background and everything you need to know. In easy to read chapters, with extensive references and links to get you to know all there is to know about Application Performance Monitoring right away, covering: Application performance management, Performance management, Accelops, Application service architecture, Application service automation, Behavioral systems analysis, Business performance management, Business transaction management, Business transaction performance, Enterprise performance management, Ergogenic aid, Hyperion Planning, Integrated business planning, Marketing performance measurement and management, Maryland StateStat, Meta learning, Network performance management, Oregon Progress Board, Performance engineering, Performance Operational analysis, Performance Reference Model, Personal Kanban, Precise Software, Service review, Strategic alignment, Supplier performance management, Talent development, Turnaround time, Apdex, Application Response Measurement, ExtraHop Networks This book explains in-depth the real drivers and workings of Application Performance Monitoring. It reduces the risk of your technology, time and resources investment decisions by enabling you to compare your understanding of Application Performance Monitoring with the objectivity of experienced professionals.