A useful dashboard helps a team answer a small number of important questions. The starting point is the decision to be made, rather than the number of charts that can fit on a screen.
Choose the business questions
Identify who will use the report and what action it should support. A sales team, an operations manager and an education administrator may need different views of the same information.
Define each measure
Agree what every figure means, where it comes from and how often it should change. Document the reporting period, exclusions and responsibility for maintaining the underlying information.
Review the available data
Check whether the necessary records exist and whether they are complete enough for the intended purpose. Record gaps and assumptions so users understand the limits of the report.
Design for clarity
Use clear labels, a consistent reporting period and a focused set of comparisons. Give users enough context to interpret a number without requiring them to reconstruct the calculation.
Introduce the report with its users
Review an initial version with the people who will rely on it. Confirm that it supports their decisions, explain how to interpret it and agree a schedule for reviewing its usefulness.
