A consensual definition of monitoring is hard to come by because it quickly shifts between industry- or even job-specific contexts. The diversity of viewpoints, the components comprising the monitoring system, and even how the data is collected or used are all factors that contribute to the struggle of reaching a clear definition.
Without a common ground, it is difficult to sustain a discussion and, usually, expectations are mismatched. Therefore, in the following topics, we will outline a baseline, orientated to obtain a definition of monitoring that will guide us throughout this book.
