Best Practices in Dashboard and Scorecard Design Catie Sirie Brett Olmstead 1
Today s Agenda Understand your Objectives Choose a Framework Align Measures Build Dashboards Engaging Users Ongoing Maintenance BEST PRACTICE SCORECARDS DASHBOARDS ANALYTICS COLLABORATION 2
The World Has Changed User expectations have increased significantly They know there s a better way Mobile devices are everywhere High demand for instant information Technology usability has improved considerably User demands have driven usability improvements Business users are more comfortable with technology 3
Don t Put the Cart Before the Horse! Well-Aligned Goals and Objectives Framework Well Defined KPIs Measure Targets Well-Defined Visualizations 4
First, Understand your Objectives Strategy Objectives Critical Success Factors Key Performance Indicators What are the key goals to be accomplished? Linked metrics connect objectives with operations and provides a line-of-sight for your framework 5
Well-Aligned Goals and Objectives BEST PRACTICE What do we want to be? What key results do we want to achieve in the next 3-5 years? What do we need to be good at to accomplish this? What do we need to track to know we are successful? Where do we want to be next year on these metrics? How are we doing? What do we need to change? 6
Choose a Performance Measurement Framework Understand your goals Understand the organization s strategic and operational directions A framework helps by: Providing focus to the achievement of the organization s goals Aligning day-to-day activities with long-term goals Formalizing structure for communicating organizational direction Acting as a model for the cultural belief system BEST PRACTICE 7
Many Performance Measurement Framework Options Think about corporate culture, create line of sight Strategic Balanced Scorecard Operational Scorecard Strategy Maps Accreditation & Compliance Malcolm Baldrige JCAHO National Quality Institute Process & Operations Risk Management SLAs Six Sigma 8
Developing New Measures? Requirements Gathering What activities drive your business? What meetings occur on a regular basis? What information is being reviewed during those meetings? What questions are being asked? What initiatives are important to the organization? 9
Choose Metrics Aligned With Objectives in Your Framework BEST PRACTICE To which metrics does each KPI align? Strategic Themes Aim for 3-5 measures for each objective Marketing Objectives People Objectives Product and Service Objectives System & Process Objectives Finance Objectives Measure 1 Measure 1 Measure 1 Measure 1 Measure 1 10
Example Map 11
Example View 12
Example 360 Dashboard 13
Building Dashboards BEST PRACTICE Data Visualization Audience 14
Building Dashboards Data Data Sources Determine current sources of data Is all data available to support objectives? Format Flat files, csv, Excel files, databases, online, etc. Delivery method (print, online, etc.) Transformation Is there any manipulation of the files? If so, what is the process and level of effort? Data 15
Building Dashboards Audience Who are the users? What group do they fit in to? Executive, Manager, Analyst What are they accountable for? Departments, Processes, Measures Consumption Method How will they be using the dashboard? Interactive, print, mobile Use Day in the life Audience 16
Building Dashboards Visualizations Tie the story together Processes, usage, line of sight Know when to use which indicator Alignment Views Cause and effect Map KPI -Gauge, meter Information Chart Scoreboard -Heat map etc Visualizations 17
Business Scope and Stakeholders Operational Tactical Strategic Purpose Control operations Optimize processes Manage strategy Scope Operational Departmental Enterprise Users Staff + Managers + Executives + Primary Activity Act Analyze Review Focus Current Past Future Data Refresh Intraday/Daily Daily/Weekly Monthly/Quarterly Information Detailed Detailed/Summary Summary Primary Source Core systems Data warehouse Data mart/excel KPIs Drivers Outcomes/Drivers Outcomes Looks like a Dashboard Portal Scorecard From TDWI Design Techniques for Dashboards and Scorecards 18
Building Dashboards Some Recommendations Grab user attention with SIMPLE design Images command your attention and lead you to other info Think of ads, magazine covers, website homepages BEST PRACTICE Build a few examples for each group Users sometimes have a hard time articulating need Much easier to assess a design and provide feedback Know your role Not everyone is skilled in designing visualizations Need design experts and business representatives who understand overall goals 19
Dashboards that People Pay Attention To GOOD DASHBOARDS Measures for users Actual results Snapshot in time Generic organization-wide metrics Gauges, charts and tables GREAT DASHBOARDS KPIs with set targets and thresholds Comparative analysis Time period analysis Business rules to define exceptions Collaboration capabilities via commentaries and initiatives 20
Ongoing Management Ensuring your Dashboards stay Relevant 21
On a Frequent Basis, Ask: How Effective Are These Measures? FACTS A lot of time is spent designing and building visualizations Users spent most (if not all) of their time here BUT WAIT If you don t have the right measures, how useful are your dashboards? How are inaccurate / irrelevant measures really affecting your organization? Your dashboards are only as effective as the measures within them 22
Existing Measures Evaluate their effectiveness BEST PRACTICE Consider the relevancy of your data. Ask: How long have you been measuring the same things? Do these measures still really reflect the current direction of the organization? Does anyone do anything with the data or the measures? Are you consistently meeting targets for a particular measure? Are your existing measures still relevant? Is it time to measure something else? Are you using that measure as a best practice? 23
Key Takeaways 1. Understand the 3-5 year goals and objectives. 2. Choose a framework that complements your culture. 3. Choose metrics aligned with objectives in your framework. 4. Keep designs simple. 5. Showcase examples to users. 6. Evaluate measures on a regular basis. 24
For Additional Information Catie Sirie Director, Customer Success csirie@actuate.com http://www.linkedin.com/in/csirie Healthcare demo: http://healthcaredemo.bpa.actuate.com 25
Best Practices in Dashboard and Scorecard Design Catie Sirie Brett Olmstead 26