Executive Dashboards 60,000 Times Faster to Interpret [Guidebook]

Where 'Don't Make Me Think Comes From' 

 

Which of these two methods of displaying data is 60,000 times faster than the other:

 

Method 1

  

Method 2.

 

The speed you are going is 173 MPH

_________________________________________________________________________________

Although both methods convey the same information, 3M Corporation has performed studies that indicate that the human mind can process the graphical display of information delivered by the airspeed gauge 60,000 times faster than the same information presented in the second method above.

 

In method 1, not only can you tell at a glance how fast you are going, you can also tell how fast you are going in two different measurement units, in this case, Miles Per Hour and Knots. 

 

Because the gauge incorporates color, you also know you are going too fast with regards to the aircraft's speed limitations and how much you must adjust your speed in order to bring the airspeed within allowable limits. 

 

Feedback Loops Are Critical

In short, you have a feedback loop already designed into the use of the gauge.  In method two, you have no idea how fast you need to be going.

 

Now let's take a look at a dashboard, using both gauges, interactivity,  alerts, and various types of graphs.

 

What jumps out at you here:

Ten Key Takeaways

 

• Graphical displays attract your attention
  
  
• Colors can tell you as much about your situation as raw numbers
  
  
• The dashboard has to be engineered to trigger follow-up actions
  
  
• Feedback loops need to be incorporated into the overall systems design that the dashboard is part of.
  
  
• Unless specifically designed  for it, dashboards do not provide the ability to ‘explore’ the environment the same way a datawarehouse can.
  
  
• The designers of any dashboard must have deep knowledge of the business processes being monitored and their relevant Performance Metrics and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
  
  
• The designers of the dashboard must design the dashboard to take full advantage of the human capacity to process visual information 60,000 times faster than purely textual information.
  
  
• Profound system knowledge is required to leverage and synthesize fully the SAP Business Process Platform.

 

As experts in designing, developing and delivering highly interactive executive dashboards that users love and use daily, we've come up with a lot of Best Practices we wanted to share with you.  Just click on the link for these and many other critical Dashboard Best Practices.

Or press the button.

 

Your comments, links and suggestions are always welcome.

 

People who read this also read:

10 Ways to Create Xcelsius Dashboards for External Entities

3 Keys to Effective Dashboard Design

9 SAP Webi Dashboard Software Testing Hacks of the Pros

Build High Impact xCelsius Dashboards

A Field Report on a Recent SAP BOBJ Webi Dashboard Project

 

 

Thanks