This document outlines tips for creating compelling dashboards. It discusses what dashboards are, why they are used, and provides examples. The main points are:
Dashboards measure business processes and align stakeholders around key objectives. Examples shown include sales, marketing, support and social media dashboards.
Five tips for creating effective dashboards are: know what message you want to convey; set clear performance goals; use visuals that clearly tell the story; keep the dashboard simple; and collaborate, validate and test the dashboard.
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Creating Compelling
Dashboards
Ray Light
Director of Training
GoodData
Best Practice Session
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Agenda
▶ What is a dashboard?
▶ Why use dashboards?
▶ Dashboard examples
▶ Tips for creating compelling dashboards
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WHAT IS A DASHBOARD?
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What is a Dashboard?
Measurement of business processes
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Why Use Dashboards?
Align stakeholders around key objectives to spur
desired actions to improve performance
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Rule: Begin with the End in Mind
The biggest mistake you can make at the start of a
project is to extract a large set of data and try to
produce meaningful reports from it.
Best Practices
1. Identify what you are already measuring
2. Consider areas for improvement
3. Ask: “What are the actions we want people to take
from that report?”
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DASHBOARD EXAMPLES
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Social Media
Various social media platforms can be included in one dashboard
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Using Visualizations in New Ways
Some data, when represented visually, is significantly easier to interpret
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Simple KPIs = Simple Dashboards
Sparklines, headline reports and traffic lights convey information directly
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Visually Appealing Dashboards
Playfully designed and sent via email to appease the needs of their audience
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Combined Dashboards
Summary dashboards provide high level – appropriate for some audiences
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5 TIPS FOR CREATING
COMPELLING DASHBOARDS
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Tip 1: Know What You Want to Say
What is the message here?
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Tip 1: Know What You Want to Say
A more targeted view of the data
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Tip 2: Measure Performance Against Clear
Goals
Which sample makes more sense?
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Tip 2: Measure Performance Against Clear
Goals
▶ Make sure people are aware of the metrics that
judge performance
▶ Set KPIs that are challenging but attainable
▶ Get buy-in from colleagues before setting targets
▶ Keep current results public so people always
understand the current situation with respect to the
targets
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Tip 3: Make Sure Your Visuals Clearly Tell
Your Story
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Tip 3: Make Sure Your Visuals Clearly Tell
Your Story
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Tip 3: Make Sure Your Visuals Clearly Tell
Your Story
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Tip 5: Collaborate, Validate and Test
▶ Solicit feedback from stakeholders and find ways to
improve
▶ Allow others to influence the dashboard and add to
the story
▶ Check which dashboards are “sticky” and are used
in day-to-day operations
▶ Do your best to know your audience!
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5 Tips for Creating Compelling Dashboards
Know what you want to say
Measure performance against clear goals
Make sure visual tell a clear story
Keep it simple!
Collaborate, validate and test
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