Designing Better Executive Dashboards
Executives need fewer numbers, clearer comparisons, and an obvious answer to “what needs my attention?”
Analytics.sa · · 7 min read
Executive dashboards are often the most visible analytics product in an organization, and frequently the least used. The cause is usually design, not data.
Principles
- Lead with a small number of metrics tied to strategic objectives.
- Always show comparison: against target, prior period, or trend.
- Make exceptions visible immediately.
- Allow drill-down, but do not require it.
- Remove decoration that carries no information.
Design for the meeting
Most executive dashboards are read in a management meeting. Designing for that setting — legible at a distance, ordered by agenda — improves adoption considerably.
Keep definitions close
Every metric should have an accessible definition and an owner. That single habit resolves many disputes before they start.