More Related Content Similar to Business Intelligence Dashboard Design Best Practices (20) More from Mark Ginnebaugh (20) Business Intelligence Dashboard Design Best Practices3. Agenda
What is a Dashboard?
Dashboard Best Practices
Dashboard Components
Navigation
©2012 Symmetry Corporation http://www.symcorp.com
4. Metaphors Go Only So Far
Monitors a
Continuous
Process
At a Gauge
Glance Oriented
©2012 Symmetry Corporation http://www.symcorp.com
5. Reporting Spectrum
Managed Dashboards Analysis
Tables, Crosstabs, Charts, Graphs
P Customization Ease of Depth & D
r & Distribution Development Quickness i
o Alternatives & Usage of Analytics
s
d Paramount
Parameter Interactive c
u Driven Navigation o
c
v
t Highly
Formatted
Advanced e
i Visualization
r
o Guided Analytics
y
n Programmer Line Staff
Developed Developed Developed
©2012 Symmetry Corporation http://www.symcorp.com
6. Dashboard Definition
Visual Display
of the
most important information
needed to achieve one or more
objectives
which fits entirely on a
single computer screen
so it can be
monitored at a glance
Information Dashboard Design
By Stephen Few
©2012 Symmetry Corporation http://www.symcorp.com
7. What Makes a Good Dashboard
Some are Better
Than Others
©2012 Symmetry Corporation http://www.symcorp.com
8. Dashboard - Best Practices
Key
Data/Metrics
In Context
Dense Zero
Information Learning
Not Curve
Cluttered Single
Page
Graphically
Oriented
Access to
Highlight
Supporting
Exceptions
Details
©2012 Symmetry Corporation http://www.symcorp.com
9. General Design Considerations
“Single Page” “Graphical”
No Scrolling Displays Patterns
Nothing Hidden Abstract Data
Linked Content Better Minimal Grids
Dashboard
All Relevant Info Design Domain Aware
One Place to Look Leverages
Not Data Driven Knowledge
“Disparate Data” “Guided Analytics”
©2012 Symmetry Corporation http://www.symcorp.com
10. Key Data/Metrics in Context
Key Data/Metrics
▪ High level performance metrics
▪ Generally tied to goals and bonuses
▪ Focus on actionable data
▪ Disparate sources
Context
▪ The 3Ts = Target, Trend, Typical
▪ Similar/Related Data/Metrics
▪ Basis for interpretation
©2012 Symmetry Corporation http://www.symcorp.com
11. Dense, not Cluttered
Dense Information
▪ All relevant data/metrics
▪ Different perspectives
Not Cluttered – “At a Glance”
▪ It is not how much, but how well
▪ Easy to view, not an eye chart
Data-Ink Ratio ( )
The Visual Display of Quantitative Information
Edward R. Tufte
▪ Non-essential ink should be removed
▪ Supporting ink (axis lines) = low visual impact
©2012 Symmetry Corporation http://www.symcorp.com
12. Zero Learning Curve
Dashboard viewing is not a person’s job
▪ Oriented at casual users, line mgt, & execs
▪ Little/No accumulated experience
● Each viewing is the first time
Dashboards are not analytical tools
▪ But they provide guided analytics
Targeted to a Person/Role/Problem Set
©2012 Symmetry Corporation http://www.symcorp.com
13. Exception Oriented
Outliers should POP out Visual Cues
Highlight Both Color
▪ Problems Size
▪ Opportunities Shape
Boldness
What is an Exception?
Position
▪ > 1 Std Dev, 2…. Five9s
Icons
▪ When action needs be taken
©2012 Symmetry Corporation http://www.symcorp.com
14. Supporting Detail
Dashboards are not an Associated
end unto themselves Layers
Guided
Contextual
Analytics Update
Content Updates
Dashboard
Webparts
Links to
New Pages Hierarchical
Drill-Down
Root Cause
Analysis
Ad Hoc Analysis Detail Reports
©2012 Symmetry Corporation http://www.symcorp.com
15. Dashboard Components
Scorecards
Diagrams
Grids Charts
Gauges Maps
Tree Map Decomp Tree
And So
Much More……
©2012 Symmetry Corporation http://www.symcorp.com
16. First a Word on Color
Use Color Sparingly – Generally Soft Colors
▪ Highlighting – Bold Colors
Different Colors = Different Meaning
▪ Try shades of grey
Use a Single Hue
▪ Increase the intensity for low to high values
Remember - 7% of men are color blind
A dashboard is not a painting
Usefulness is Paramount
©2012 Symmetry Corporation http://www.symcorp.com
17. Grids
When to use:
▪ Values are familiar
▪ Need to lookup a value
▪ Small differences are important
▪ Mixed units of measure
Design Considerations
▪ Try to keep square-ish
▪ Comparisons are done by column
▪ Limit length with Top/Bottom
©2012 Symmetry Corporation http://www.symcorp.com
18. Grid Embellishments
Highlights
▪ Items of interest
Data Bars
▪ Helpful to read magnitude
Color Scales/Icons Icons
are best used to:
▪ Can overwhelm the data
Arrows Replace
data to save space
▪ Used for change over time
Show
variance or score
©2012 Symmetry Corporation http://www.symcorp.com
19. Scorecards
Are a special type of grid
▪ Created for KPIs and Objectives
Can be methodology oriented
▪ Balanced Scorecard, 6 Sigma, …
Used as a navigation aid
▪ A list with data
Scorecards
are less about data
and more about process
©2012 Symmetry Corporation http://www.symcorp.com
20. Basic Charts
Lines Charts – Time Series oriented
▪ Highlights trend, patterns or variability
▪ Highlights relationships between series
▪ Trend lines & projections can be added
Bar Chart – Comparison Oriented
▪ Categorical comparisons within a dimension
▪ Nominal comparisons across data (sales to cost)
Pie Charts – Part to Whole
▪ Only works with small sets
▪ Hard to visually quantify
▪ A lot of space for not much data
©2012 Symmetry Corporation http://www.symcorp.com
21. Interlude: Form vs. Function
If the dashboard is not
visually appealing,
people will not go to it 1 Page – 6#s
If the dashboard is not
effective and practical,
people will not use it Pretty Yes! Useful?
What is fun
the first time
Might be boring
the 100th time
Too Dense?
©2012 Symmetry Corporation http://www.symcorp.com
22. Bar Charts
Horizontal
▪ Long labels
▪ Pattern comparisons
▪ Long-ish lists
Vertical
▪ Groups with in groups
▪ Stacked and 100% Bars
▪ Pareto Charts
Doesn’t work for large numbers of groups
Bars are easily drilled into
©2012 Symmetry Corporation http://www.symcorp.com
23. Hybrids – Charts in Grids
Effective
Great
Mixing Of
Data-Ink
Charts &
Ratio
Values
Introduction of
Sparklines & Bullet Graphs
©2012 Symmetry Corporation http://www.symcorp.com
24. Bullet Graphs
A bullet graph is a variation of a bar
graph developed by Stephen Few.
Seemingly inspired by the traditional
thermometer charts and progress bars
found in many dashboards, the bullet
graph serves as a replacement for Symmetry’s
dashboard gauges and meters Variation
Sales
Costs
Black Bar = Value
Green/Red Bar = Target
Blue Pointer = Last Year
©2012 Symmetry Corporation http://www.symcorp.com
25. Maps
Useful in
showing regional
components
Maps are great for
demographics
Maps are highly specialized
Impact grids
can be effective
Be careful of charts
within a map
©2012 Symmetry Corporation http://www.symcorp.com
26. Gauges
When using a set of
Hard to set gauge scale
gauges expected value
for the general case
should be straight up
Best for continuous process
Poor Data-Ink Ratio
©2012 Symmetry Corporation http://www.symcorp.com
27. Diagrams
Balanced Process Diagram
Scorecard
Strategy Map
Diagrams are
underutilized
Graphical Representations
Impact Diagram Root Cause/Fishbone Diagram
©2012 Symmetry Corporation http://www.symcorp.com
28. Graphical Excellence
Show the data
Focus on the substance of the numbers
Don’t distort the data
Present many numbers in a small space
Encourage comparisons
Show data in several perspectives
The Visual Display of Quantitative Information
Edward R. Tufte
©2012 Symmetry Corporation http://www.symcorp.com
29. Screen Layout
Number of Frames
▪ Up to 4 is good, no more than 6
Frame Proportions
▪ Size = implied importance
▪ Uniform otherwise
Location
▪ Top left = primary focus
▪ Bottom right = supporting detail
▪ Off page = irrelevant
Printing
▪ The dirty little secret
©2012 Symmetry Corporation http://www.symcorp.com
30. Frame Options
Different frame on same page
▪ Must fit on the page
▪ Can drill from here to new page
New page in same browser
▪ Easy to get back
▪ Full page available
New browser tab/window
▪ Allows for comparisons
▪ Users must close windows/tabs
©2012 Symmetry Corporation http://www.symcorp.com
31. Navigation Framework
A tiered set of dashboards
based on role or function
A set of grids, graphs, or
visualizations that examine
a single metric
A set of detailed reports or
ad-hoc analytics
©2012 Symmetry Corporation http://www.symcorp.com
32. Navigation
Identify the key dimensions for the metric
▪ Customer, product, department
▪ Drill into one or more of these
▪ Top 10 rankings
Identify the audience
▪ Marketing manager – Drill to product
▪ Sales Manager – Drill to customer
©2012 Symmetry Corporation http://www.symcorp.com
34. Microsoft Software Components
Reporting Services
▪ Formal report view
▪ Highly formatted
Performance Point Server
▪ Analytical Charts and Graphs
▪ Less control over format
▪ Built in Slice and Dice
Excel Services
▪ Shared user-created content
▪ Fast changing
©2012 Symmetry Corporation http://www.symcorp.com
35. Summary
Choose the right tool for the job
Simple is better
Conserve your screen real estate
Use color to highlight
Put focus on the data not the decoration
©2012 Symmetry Corporation http://www.symcorp.com
36. Symmetry
Founded in 1986
Experienced Consultants
▪ Each with over 15 years of BI experience
Microsoft Relationship
▪ Gold Certified Partner
▪ Microsoft-nominated BI Partner Advisory
Council member since 1999
▪ Licensed Technology to Microsoft
▫ SQL Server Accelerator for BI
▪ Internal Microsoft Consulting
▫ SQL Server
▫ PerformancePoint Server
▫ Internal departmental BI application development
©2012 Symmetry Corporation http://www.symcorp.com
37. Resources
▪ Show Me the Numbers: Designing Tables and Graphs to Enlighten
● Stephen Few
▪ Information Dashboard Design: The Effective Visual
Communication of Data
● Stephen Few
▪ The Visual Display of Quantitative Information, 2nd edition
● Edward R. Tufte
http://www.perceptualedge.com/
http://dashboardspy.com/
Symmetry Corp – www.symcorp.com
©2012 Symmetry Corporation http://www.symcorp.com
38. To learn more or attend a meeting: www.bayareamicrosoftbi.org
To inquire about sponsorship or speaking opportunities:
Mark Ginnebaugh, User Group Leader mark@designmind.com