Visual Analytics for Dashboards: A Step-by-Step Guide to Principles and Practical Techniques

✍ Scribed by Arshad Khan

• Publisher: Apress
• Year: 2024
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 188
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

This book covers the key principles, best practices, and practical techniques for designing and implementing visually compelling dashboards. It explores the various stages of the dashboard development process, from understanding user needs and defining goals, to selecting appropriate visual encodings, designing effective layouts, and employing interactive elements. It also addresses the critical aspect of data storytelling, examining how narratives and context can be woven into dashboards to deliver impactful insights and engage audiences.

Visual Analytics for Dashboards is designed to cater to a wide range of readers, from beginners looking to grasp the fundamentals of visual analytics, to seasoned professionals seeking to enhance their dashboard design skills. For different types of readers, such as a data analyst, BI professional, data scientist, or simply someone interested in data visualization, this book aims to equip them with the knowledge and tools necessary to create impactful dashboards.

What you’ll learn

The principles of data visualization

How to create effective dashboards

Meet all the requirements for visual analytics/data visualization/dashboard courses

Deepen understanding of data presentation and analysis

How to use different kinds of tools for data analysis, such as scorecards and key performance indicators

Who This Book Is For

Business analysts, data analysts, BI professionals, end-users, executives, developers, as well as students in dashboards, data visualizations, and visual analytics courses.

✦ Table of Contents

Table of Contents
About the Author
About the Technical Reviewer
Preface
Introduction
Chapter 1: Dashboards
Business Intelligence
Objective and Technologies
Defining Business Intelligence
Business Intelligence Tools
Convergence of Disciplines
Background
Business Dashboard Predecessor
Change in User Needs
Major Changes Since the 1990s
Dashboards
Car Dashboard
Business Dashboard
Definition
Objective
Key Features
Process Supported
Dashboard Types
Dashboard Classifications
Strategic Dashboard
Analytical Dashboard
Operational Dashboard
Dashboard Characteristics
Unique Design
Common Elements
Desired Dashboard Characteristics
High-Level Dashboard Product Features
Common Dashboard Software Tool Features
Drilling
Filtering
Sorting
Pivoting
Calculating
Charting
Dashboard Benefits, Shortcomings, and Challenges
Benefits
Shortcomings
Challenges
Obtaining Value from Dashboards
Determine the Objective
Determine the Expected Value
Identify Users
Leverage Data Visualization
Leverage Advantage over Conventional Reporting
Balance Conflicting Display Requirements
Selection and Implementation
Cost Components
Selecting the Dashboard Type
What Is the Objective?
Which Business Problem Needs to Be Solved?
Who Will Use the Dashboard?
What Are the Existing Performance Gaps?
Identifying the Technical Requirements
Implementation
Summary
Chapter 2: Scorecards
Understanding Scorecards
What Is a Scorecard
Comparing Dashboards and Scorecards
Implementing and Using a Scorecard
Implementation Issues
Metrics Issue
Format Issue
Standards Issue
Collection Issue
Use Issue
Making an Effective Scorecard
Balanced Scorecard
Background
Objective
What a Balanced Scorecard Does
Four Balanced Scorecard Perspectives
Strategic Areas
Financial Perspective
Customer Perspective
Internal Processes Perspective
Learning and Growth Perspective
Connection Between Perspectives
Comparing Scorecards and Dashboards
Three Common Characteristics
Applications
Layers
Types
Differences
Ensuring Effectiveness
Summary
Chapter 3: Key Performance Indicators
Measuring Performance
Why Performance Is Measured
Measurement Requirements
Linking Measures
Metrics
Measures and Metrics
Difference in Objectives
Balancing Metrics
How to Obtain the Best Results
Key Performance Indicators
What Is a Key Performance Indicator?
KPI Characteristics
KPIs Variety
KPIs to Use
Benefits and Issues
Using and Managing KPIs
KPI Management
Metrics As Predictors of Success
Dashboard KPI
Number of Metrics to Include
Ownership
Metrics Review
Data Quality Review
Developing KPIs
Identifying New KPIs
Creating New KPIs
Participants in KPI Design and Development
Data Requirements
Data Collection Methods
Identifying the Data Source
Data Collection Responsibility
Data Collection Frequency
Cost Components
Temporary Indicators
Summary
Chapter 4: Dashboard Requirements
Objective and Users
Objective
Users
Functional Requirements
High-Level User Requirements
Basic Requirements
Presentation and Display Requirements
Output and Distribution Requirements
Determining Requirements
Objective Questions
Metrics Questions
Responsibilities and User Action Questions
Views/Reports Questions
Monitoring Frequency Questions
Security Questions
Design Questions for User Input
User Needs
Dashboard Design
Placing Data
Types of Interactions
Summary
Chapter 5: Dashboard Design
Design Principles
Need for Effective Design
Features Affecting Dashboard Design
Key Design Principles
Checklist for Designing Dashboards
Impact of Poor Design
What Designers Need to Understand
Sketches, Mockups, and Prototypes
Design for Uniqueness
Leveraging External Expertise
Architecture
How to Architect Dashboards
Business and Technical Architecture
Effective Principles of Dashboard Design
Avoid Information Overload
Design for Rapid Monitoring
Implement Responsive Design
Provide Insight, Not Reports
Utilize Valuable Real Estate
Avoid Scrolling
Use an Iterative Design Process
Implement Best Practices and Standards
Layout, Colors, and Fonts
Layout
Chart Elements
Colors
Visualization Backgrounds
Fonts
UI Design Principles
Importance of UI Design
User/UI Interaction
Principles of UI Design
Structure Principle
Simplicity Principle
Visibility Principle
Feedback Principle
Reuse Principle
Tolerance Principle
Summary
Chapter 6: Data Visualization
Memory and Cognitive Load
Memory Types
Iconic Memory
Short-Term Memory
Long-Term Memory
Cognitive Load
Need to Visualize Data
Memory Limitations
Key Characteristics of Good Visualizations
Data Visualization in Business
Effectiveness of Visuals
Comparing Charts with Tables
Why Charts Are More Powerful Than Tables
Data Visualization for Business
Benefits
Role in Business Analysis
Key to Successful Data Visualization Usage
Presentation Media
Presentation Media Types
Visual Display Elements Used by Dashboards
Summary
Chapter 7: Visualization Principles
Attributes of Visual Perception
Pre-attentive Visual Attributes
Leveraging Pre-attentive Visual Attributes
Four Categories of Pre-attentive Attributes
Color Attribute
Form Attribute
Position Attribute
Motion Attribute
Gestalt Principles of Visual Perception
Gestalt Principles
Proximity Principle
Similarity Principle
Enclosure Principle
Closure Principle
Continuity Principle
Connection Principle
Visual Design Considerations
Size
Color
Fonts
Chart Scale and Size
Chart Scale
Chart Size
Summary
Chapter 8: Visual Communication
Visual Cues
Placement
Position
Proximity
Lines
Shapes
Area
3D Shapes and Volume
Problem with Circles
Impact of Shapes
Color
Coordinate Systems
Cartesian Coordinates
Polar Coordinates
Geographic Coordinates
Measurement Scales
Linear and Logarithmic Scales
Ratio and Interval Scales
Ordinal Scales
Nominal Scales
Percent Scales
Time Scales
Visual Context
Explicit and Implicit Context
Visual Hierarchy
Visual Hierarchy Principle
Characteristics of Contrast Areas
Summary
Chapter 9: Understanding and Using Charts
Visualizations for Dashboards
Variety of Visualizations
Plots and Maps
Using Charts
Tables
Chart Types
Column Chart
Stacked Column Chart
Bar Chart
Stacked Horizontal Bar Chart
Pie Chart
Donut Chart
Line Chart
Bullet Chart
Sparkline Chart
Treemap
Scatterplot
Heat Map
Funnel Chart
Small Multiples
Area Chart
Bubble Chart
Gauges
Summary
Chapter 10: Selecting Charts
Visualization Requirements
Purpose
What Needs to Be Visualized
What Drives the Selection
Selecting the Type of Chart to Use
Best Fit
Finding the Appropriate Chart
Mapping Categories
Comparisons
Proportions
Relationships
Patterns
Summary
Chapter 11: Best Practices and Tips
Design
Provide an Effective Dashboard
Design a Single-Screen Dashboard
Design the Layout Carefully
Position Important Items Strategically
Limit Display to What Is Essential
Start Design at the High Level
Make the Dashboard Communicate Quickly
Pick Critical Metrics
Enable Interactivity
Provide Intuitive Navigation
Make It Simple to Access and Use
Keep It Current
Develop on a Single Platform
Information and Its Visual Representation
Avoid Mismatch
Display Context for the Data
Limit Text or Content to Be Displayed
Provide Qualitative Data
Express Measures Effectively
Do Not Make Everything Prominent
Presentation Media and Variety
Unappealing Visual Display
Using an Inappropriate Visual
Unnecessary Display Variety
Distractions That Hinder Communication
Data Issues
Excessive Detail or Precision
Improper Encoding of Visual Objects
Visualization Tips
Keep It Visual
Leverage Visual Perception
Avoid Distracting Visuals
Avoid Inappropriate Visual Salience
Mute Axis Lines, Borders, and Lines
Avoid Grid Lines
Use Fill Colors to Delineate
Charts
Gauges
Clutter and Color Mistakes
Avoid Screen Clutter
Avoid Misusing or Overusing Color
Avoid Unnecessary Color Variation
Select Colors Carefully
Maintain Color Consistency
Visuals to Avoid
Pie Charts
Donut Charts
3D Charts
Charts with Secondary Y-Axis
Challenges
Unique Business Operations
Organizational Challenges
User Acceptance
Data Quality
Speedy Implementations
Summary
Appendix
Dissecting the Dashboard
Index