Prerequisite

Before undertaking this module, it is critical that you understand the material covered in the module "Charting with Analytic Tools" and that you have completed the assignment for that module. You must have experience using the analytic tool Tableau Desktop Professional and have the proper software environment installed and available. For software setup instructions, please see the module "Charting with Analytic Tools".

 

Introduction

In this module you will learn how to combine charts and other visual elements to create effective dashboard visualizations for organizational data.

Lesson Objectives
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
  1. Create effective dashboards to convey organizational information.

Learning Sequence
Required Readings
Resources

Note: While this has changed over time, registration is currently required to view the videos.

View the following:

Additional Resources

Tableau Videos

Assignments
Complete the following:
  • Creating Dashboards
 

Instruction

Creating Effective Dashboards

What is a Dashboard?

A dashboard is a visualization of data that combines a number of related charts and other visual elements into an effective display of organizational data. It most often allows the viewer to interact with the data, selecting and filtering as needed.

As we have mentioned before with data visualization, a picture is worth a thousand words. So to understand what a dashboard is, I suggest that you review examples of dashboards from Tableau Software by visiting Dashboard Examples. Click on several of the examples listed and view the entire dashboard. Observe how the charts within the dashboard are related. Observe how you can interact with the dashboard to change the information displayed.

Techniques for Developing Dashboards

Once you understand what a dashboard is, you need to develop some skill with your analytic tool.

Step 1: To learn about creating dashboards using Tableau software, review the following Tableau video: Dashboard Development (13:43)

Perfecting your Dashboard Visualizations

Once you have some skill with your tool, you need to be able to apply your tool to make, not just any visualization, but rather, effective, clean and clear visualizations that help your organization understand its data. Analytic tools provide us with so many choices and features but not all choices and features are appropriate for our scenarios. We need to learn to use our choices effectively.

Step 2: Read "Tableau Visual Guidebook". This document is available from the Tableau Software website.

This document will help you to plan your dashboard visualizations and avoid common pitfalls in presenting data.

Step 3: Read "5 Best Practices for Creating Effective Dashboards". This document is available from the Tableau Software website.

This document will further help you perfect your data visualization design.

 

Summary

Creating Effective Dashboards Wrap-Up

Note that the following information may also be found in an alternative format in the document: Creating Effective Dashboards Summary.

Here is a short check-list that even professionals can use to review their work.

  1. Can you clearly articulate the purpose of your dashboard? What story are you trying to tell?
  2. Does each of the metrics that you chose to display have meaning and importance to the organization? Can you articulate the purpose of each as it relates to the organization's goals?
  3. Did you use charts, maps and other visual elements rather than lots of grids full of numbers?
  4. Does each of the charts, maps and other visual elements that you chose appropriately reflect your data? Consider the following points from the previous module.
  5. Chart Type Consideration
    Bar Chart Does your numerical data fall into categories? Do you have too many categories for the viewer to digest?
    Line Chart Did you display numerical data over time?
    Pie Chart Did you show proportions with six or fewer sections? Does the whole have meaning? Beware the pie chart. It can be misleading
    Map Is geography important? Is it the driver of your presentation?
    Scatter Plot Do you want to see outliers and trends across variables? Do you want to see a pattern of distribution?
    Gantt Chart Are you displaying project tasks/schedule?
    Bubbles Are you using them on a map or scatter plot to show how data is concentrated?
    Histogram Did you wish to group your data?
    Bullet Graph Do you wish to show progress toward a goal?
    Heat Map Do you want to show the relationship between two factors?
    Highlight Table Did you want a heat map display with numbers?

  6. Can all information be easily read? Or do you have too many scroll bars, tiny "squished" charts, illegible fonts, too many bright colors…?
  7. Can the user/viewer of your dashboard filter data, drill down and otherwise interact with the dashboard to get answers to his/her questions?
  8. Is the overall appearance of your dashboard clean, simple and to the point? Or do too many widgets, fonts and colors obscure your message?

Assignments

  1. Creating Dashboards
Creative Commons License

This work is created by the National Information Security and Geospatial Technologies Consortium (NISGTC), and except where otherwise noted, is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.

Authoring Organization: Bellevue College
Written by: Linda Rumans
Copyright © National Information Security, Geospatial Technologies Consortium (NISGTC)

Development was funded by the Department of Labor (DOL) Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) Grant No. TC-22525-11-60-A-48; The National Information Security, Geospatial Technologies Consortium (NISGTC) is an entity of Collin College of Texas, Bellevue College of Washington, Bunker Hill Community College of Massachusetts, Del Mar College of Texas, Moraine Valley Community College of Illinois, Rio Salado College of Arizona, and Salt Lake Community College of Utah.

This workforce solution was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration. The solution was created by the grantee and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites, and including, but not limited to accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability or ownership.