1. A method to be executed at least in part in a computing device for rendering a performance metric based visualization, the method comprising: receiving performance metric data at a desktop visualization application from a hosted business service, wherein the desktop visualization application is registered with the hosted business service; providing a list of user-selectable indicators associated with visualizing the performance metric data; receiving a selection of at least one user-selectable indicator; receiving a definition of at least one performance metric data element to be reflected by the at least one user-selectable indicator; rendering a visualization based on the received performance metric data by the desktop visualization application; receiving a first user selection of the at least one performance indicator; providing, in response to receiving the first user selection, an information panel providing additional information associated with the at least one performance indicator; receiving a second user selection of the additional information; and activating at least one application associated with the additional information.