{"id":11647,"date":"2019-04-11T11:06:25","date_gmt":"2019-04-11T16:06:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mrc-productivity.com\/blog\/?p=11647"},"modified":"2023-05-19T16:26:39","modified_gmt":"2023-05-19T21:26:39","slug":"executive-dashboard-best-practices-7-rules-to-follow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mrc-productivity.com\/blog\/2019\/04\/executive-dashboard-best-practices-7-rules-to-follow\/","title":{"rendered":"Executive dashboard best practices: 7 rules to follow"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-725\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mrc-productivity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/11\/Education.jpg\" alt=\"Education\" width=\"76\" height=\"100\" \/><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><em>Summary: Executive dashboards help business leaders get a clear view of their organizations at a glance. But, not all dashboards are created equal. How can you create effective dashboards for your executives? In this article, we explore a few best practices to follow when creating dashboards. <\/em><\/span><br \/>\n<a name=\"20180321\"><\/a><!--more--><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-9283 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mrc-productivity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/computer-767776_640-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mrc-productivity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/computer-767776_640-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mrc-productivity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/computer-767776_640.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s talk about dashboards. Dashboard adoption has grown by leaps and bounds over the past few years. The driving force: Businesses have more data than ever before. They\u2019re using dashboards as a way to turn this data into meaningful information.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The problem<\/strong>: Many dashboards fall short of this goal. They\u2019re nothing more than charts on a page.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The question<\/strong>: How can your business deliver dashboards that make a difference? How can you make great dashboards? What best practices should you follow?<\/p>\n<p>Today, let\u2019s explore that topic in more detail. Now, I realize that there are no shortage of articles on dashboards&#8230;many of which say the same things, like:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"arrow-list colored\">\n<li>Start with clean data<\/li>\n<li>Identify your KPI\u2019s<\/li>\n<li>Keep it simple<\/li>\n<li>Figure out which type of dashboard you need<\/li>\n<li>etc&#8230;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Don\u2019t get me wrong: The points mentioned above are important. But, I think everyone who knows anything about dashboards already understands these points. Rather than restate these best practices, I want to move into other critical areas that aren\u2019t as widely discussed. If you\u2019re using dashboards, here are 7 best practices to follow.<\/p>\n<h3>Ask dashboard users this question<\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7706\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7706\" style=\"width: 225px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-7706\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mrc-productivity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/small__3534516458-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mrc-productivity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/small__3534516458-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.mrc-productivity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/small__3534516458.jpg 240w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7706\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">photo credit: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/marcobellucci\/3534516458\/\">Marco Bellucci<\/a> via <a href=\"http:\/\/photopin.com\">photopin<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/\">cc<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>You probably understand the importance of talking to your users before creating a dashboard. Obviously, you shouldn\u2019t deliver dashboards without understanding their needs.<\/p>\n<p>However, business users don\u2019t always know what they need on a dashboard. They understand what problems they\u2019re facing, but they don\u2019t always know the best solution.<\/p>\n<p>For instance, if you asked a user what metrics they want on their dashboard, they might ask for all sorts of graphs and charts. The problem is, that question doesn\u2019t drill down to the user\u2019s needs. It\u2019s asking them to design the dashboard.<\/p>\n<p>Rather, you need to frame your questions in a way that reveals the user\u2019s needs. As explained below, it starts by asking a simple question.<\/p>\n<blockquote style=\"line-height: 1.7em; background-image: none; margin-left: 0; padding-left: 18px; height: auto;\"><p>\u201cThis may sound like a no-brainer, but the most essential step before designing a dashboard is to truly understand the needs of the people who you\u2019re building it for,\u201d says Max Morganfield, Data Strategist for <a href=\"https:\/\/room214.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: red; font-weight: bold;\">Room 214<\/span><\/a>. \u201cTo get there, lead by asking \u201cWhat questions are you trying to answer?\u201d instead of \u201cWhat metrics do you want to see?\u201d The person building the dashboard \u2013 whether it\u2019s an analyst or strategist \u2013 is the specialist, and knows how to translate that feedback into the metrics executives need to make more informed decisions.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3>Constantly iterate<\/h3>\n<p>Let\u2019s take the last point one step further. Asking users the right questions is important, but it doesn\u2019t end there.<\/p>\n<p>Never assume that the dashboard is finished because you built it to the executive\u2019s specifications.<\/p>\n<p>The next step: Iteration. Understand how they interact with the dashboard. Figure out what areas are most important (and which are being ignored), and adjust accordingly.<\/p>\n<blockquote style=\"line-height: 1.7em; background-image: none; margin-left: 0; padding-left: 18px; height: auto;\"><p>\u201cAfter talking to your users, start with low-fidelity prototypes,\u201d says Alan Zucker, Founding Principal of <a href=\"https:\/\/pmessentials.us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: red; font-weight: bold;\">Project Management Essentials LLC<\/span><\/a>. \u201cSee how the executives interact with the data. How often do they access it? How often do they stay logged in? How do they address questions raised by the data? Progressively iterate through the process, incrementally adding functionality and value.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3>Start with the most important metric in the top left<\/h3>\n<p>Every dashboard should tell a story that\u2019s aimed at the user. They should clearly explain specific insights so the executive not only understands the data, they know what actions to take next.<\/p>\n<blockquote style=\"line-height: 1.7em; background-image: none; margin-left: 0; padding-left: 18px; height: auto;\"><p>\u201cThe golden rule for all executive dashboards, including those that are fairly simplistic or narrow, is to make sure the design flow tells a story,\u201d says Morganfield. \u201cFrom the top down, each metric should support a narrative that helps your executive get to the point quickly and without difficult navigation. Dashboards are important, but so is the executive\u2019s time.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Since you\u2019re telling a story, data organization is critical. Deliver the most important information first. Studies show that people\u2019s eyes gravitate towards the top left of the page, and move from left to right. Place your most important metric in the top left of the screen, and organize the rest by importance in the order they will be viewed.<\/p>\n<h3>Understand visual hierarchy<\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8117\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8117\" style=\"width: 236px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8117\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mrc-productivity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/small_2961565820.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"236\" height=\"240\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8117\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">photo credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/dierkschaefer\/2961565820\/\">dierk schaefer<\/a> via <a href=\"http:\/\/photopin.com\">photopin<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/\">cc<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In the first three points, we\u2019ve explored the need to build a dashboard around the user\u2019s needs. But, placing data on a page isn\u2019t that effective if you don\u2019t understand visual hierarchy.<\/p>\n<p>In other words, how does the human eye process visual cues? According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.interaction-design.org\/literature\/article\/visual-hierarchy-organizing-content-to-follow-natural-eye-movement-patterns\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: red; font-weight: bold;\">this article<\/span><\/a>, our eyes automatically process and rank visual data based on certain factors:<\/p>\n<p><b>Size<\/b> &#8211; Our eyes are drawn to larger elements. When building a dashboard, emphasize your most important data with size.<\/p>\n<p><b>Color<\/b> &#8211; Our eyes are drawn to bright colors. Avoid dull or drab colors when highlighting important takeaways.<\/p>\n<p><b>Contrast<\/b> &#8211; Stark differences between elements is a good way to draw the user\u2019s eye to the brighter one.<\/p>\n<p><b>Repetition<\/b> &#8211; Repeated elements draws the user\u2019s eye. For example, you could emphasize all of the data you want to highlight using a specific color.<\/p>\n<p><b>Proximity<\/b> &#8211; When elements are in close proximity to one another, users assume they\u2019re related. Group related data together, while separating unrelated data with whitespace.<\/p>\n<p><b>Texture and Style<\/b> &#8211; Emphasize actions or data using distinct textures\/styles. For instance, use a specific button to highlight actions that you want the user to take.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, we\u2019re just scratching the surface here. If you\u2019re responsible for dashboard creation, I encourage you to educate yourself on visual design. You\u2019ll create dashboards that display both useful information AND make it easy to understand.<\/p>\n<h3>Include goals and checkpoints<\/h3>\n<p>Many dashboards lack one powerful element: Context. Without context, your dashboard is less effective.<\/p>\n<p>For example, suppose your business shipped 100 widgets this month. When an executive views this data on their dashboard, how will they know if that\u2019s good or bad? How will they know if they\u2019re on pace or falling behind? As explained below, include goals and checkpoints with all of your data.<\/p>\n<blockquote style=\"line-height: 1.7em; background-image: none; margin-left: 0; padding-left: 18px; height: auto;\"><p>\u201cAdd goals and checkpoints into your dashboard\u2019s visuals,\u201d says Morganfield. \u201cThis makes it more intuitive, and executives will have an easier time seeing how the tracked items are measuring up against their objectives. While a visual look at historical data can help executives answer questions about the past, without a clear representation of where things are heading, it&#8217;s difficult for them to understand when to make adjustments or to pivot their tactics.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3>Make the dashboard proactive<\/h3>\n<p>The goal of any executive dashboard: Drive action. The data should not only tell a story, it should help the user understand what steps to take next.<\/p>\n<p>The problem with most dashboards: They\u2019re only effective if the user is physically looking at it. As soon as they step away from the dashboard, it\u2019s not very useful. How can you drive action if you can\u2019t control when the executives use the dashboard?<\/p>\n<p>I believe dashboards should be proactive. For instance, wouldn\u2019t you rather have a dashboard that\u2019s useful 100% of the time? Wouldn\u2019t you want a dashboard that can alert users to problems, even when they\u2019re not staring at the dashboard?<\/p>\n<p>Any dashboard tool worth its salt should offer some type of automation options. These options let your dashboard respond to changes in data automatically, or perform tasks based on pre-determined events.<\/p>\n<p>For instance, an effective dashboard should notify the user when key data points rise or fall beyond pre-set numbers. It should alert them to a problem as it\u2019s happening, not just when they\u2019re looking at the dashboard.<\/p>\n<h3>Show the refresh date<\/h3>\n<blockquote style=\"line-height: 1.7em; background-image: none; margin-left: 0; padding-left: 18px; height: auto;\"><p>\u201cYou must ensure they last refresh period is shown in the dashboard that is easy for executives to know the last time the data was loaded,\u201d explains Derek Wilson, President and CEO, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdoadvisors.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: red; font-weight: bold;\">CDO Advisors, LLC<\/span><\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>It\u2019s a simple tip, but one that is often overlooked. I can\u2019t tell you how many dashboards I\u2019ve seen that omit this data.<\/p>\n<p>Why is it so important? Your dashboard must give the users a complete view of their data. To make an informed decision, the user must understand the data\u2019s age. Is it real-time, hours old, days old, etc&#8230;? The data\u2019s freshness plays a major role in deciding the next steps.<\/p>\n<h3>Summary<\/h3>\n<p>These are just a few executive dashboard best practices, but the list could be much longer. Would you add anything to this list? Feel free to comment below!<\/p>\n<div id=\"sendgrid_nlvx_widget-2\" class=\"widget widget_sendgrid_nlvx_widget\" style=\"padding-bottom: 10px;width: auto;text-align: center;background-color: #edeff4;border: 1px solid #d1d1d1\">\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"widget-title\" style=\"font-size: 18px;margin-top: 28px;font-weight: 400;margin-bottom:25px\">If you enjoyed this article, sign up for email updates<\/h3>\r\n<p>Sign up below, and we'll notify you of new blog articles via email. We value your privacy and will never share or sell your information. To learn more about how we handle data, please review our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mrc-productivity.com\/about\/privacy.html\">privacy policy<\/a>.\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Summary: Executive dashboards help business leaders get a clear view of their organizations at a glance. But, not all dashboards are created equal. How can you create effective dashboards for your executives? In this article, we explore a few best practices to follow when creating dashboards.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","slim_seo":{"title":"Executive dashboard best practices: 7 rules to follow - mrc&#039;s Cup of Joe Blog","description":"Summary: Executive dashboards help business leaders get a clear view of their organizations at a glance. But, not all dashboards are created equal. 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