A dashboard starts with a question: which decision should it support? Tracking sales means different things when planning stock, preparing a follow-up or reviewing a sales target.
A definition that survives comparison
Specify the period, scope and calculation rule. A sale may mean an order, a delivery or an invoice; these events are not interchangeable. A written definition prevents comparisons between differently constructed figures.
An identified source and owner
For each indicator, document the source, update frequency and person validating the information. If data is missing, make the limitation visible rather than silently substituting an estimate.
A review that leads to action
A change needs an explanation before a decision. First check the data, then investigate operating causes. The review should specify what will be done, by whom and when the effect will be examined.
Start with a manageable scope
Choose a few priority decisions, a data sample and a reference report. Ask business users to reconcile results before expanding sources and views. The dashboard then becomes a shared working resource.
Business Intelligence & analytics →