Want FREE Templates on Digital Transformation? Download our FREE compilation of 50+ slides. This is an exclusive promotion being run on LinkedIn.


DASHBOARD DESIGN TOOLKIT



Speaking on the importance of metrics and their depiction in businesses, Tim Cook, CEO of Apple Inc., insightfully noted, "You can't manage what you can't measure". In today's dynamic business world, Dashboard Design plays a crucial role in Management Strategy, enabling executives to visually comprehend complex data and make informed decisions.

Purpose of Dashboard Designs in Strategic Management

Picture this: Your company houses large volumes of data, yet concise insights remain elusive to Operations, Finance, Sales—across the board. This is where effective Dashboard Design comes to the rescue, serving as an integral cog in Strategic Management. Properly designed dashboards act as a compass in the high seas of complex data—guiding executives to relevant insights and promoting informed decision-making. Hence, the purpose of a dashboard is more than just an aesthetic presentation of metrics—it should be a powerful tool for Strategic Management transformation.

Key Principles to Consider

Designing a dashboard is not just about cramming data onto a screen. There are key principles worth considering while developing a high-impact dashboard.

  1. Data Relevance: Ensure only pertinent data is showcased on the dashboard. Irrelevant data muddles the dashboard purpose and can lead to indecisive action.
  2. User-centric Design: Align dashboard design with user needs and understanding. Make it intuitive and easy to navigate, while maintaining a degree of customization.
  3. Data Visualization: Use clear and appropriate graphical representations that highlight data trends and outliers, catering to the maximum "at-a-glance" capability.
  4. Data Timeliness: Feature real-time or near real-time data to allow for rapid response and action.

Best Practices for Dashboard Design

Strategic dashboard design falls under three broad categories: Operational Dashboards, Tactical Dashboards, and Strategic Dashboards. Here are some best practices related to each.

Another important aspect of Dashboard Design is 'Dashboard Parity'. Simply put, this refers to the degree of agreement between what the dashboard portrays and the actual performance of the organization. There lies the possibility of dashboards painting an overly positive or negative picture of the state of affairs in the organization due to faulty data input or misinterpretation. 'Dashboard Parity' is, therefore, pivotal for maintaining the trustworthiness and credibility of dashboards.

The Future of Dashboard Design

In the era of Digital Transformation, dashboards are evolving. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are reshaping dashboard design. Predictive Analytics and Natural Language Processing (NLP) are enabling more intuitive and interactive interfaces, in line with constant Innovation in modern businesses. In the future, we will witness dashboards that not only reflect what happened in the past but also predict outcomes, facilitating proactive decision-making.

Bottom line, the design of a useful dashboard is more than an exercise in aesthetics—it's a fundamental pillar of effective Change Management and Strategic Planning. It requires a user-centric approach combined with an understanding of the business, culture, and strategic goals to provide C-level executives with vital insights to drive business transformation.




CUSTOMER TESTIMONIALS




SELECT CUSTOMERS
Since 2012, we have provided best practices to over 10,000 businesses and organizations of all sizes across the world—in over 130 countries. Below is just a very small sample of our customer base.



Did you know?
The average daily rate of a McKinsey consultant is $6,625 (not including expenses). The average price of a Flevy document is $65.







Browse our Business Toolkits
to quickly find the documents you need.
Each business toolkit is a collection of documents around a common management topic.





TOP 40 TRENDING TOOLKITS


  Show all available toolkits.

Download our FREE Strategy & Transformation Framework Templates

Download our free compilation of 50+ Strategy & Transformation slides and templates. Frameworks include McKinsey 7-S Strategy Model, Balanced Scorecard, Disruptive Innovation, BCG Experience Curve, and many more.