Boxes and Arrows: Comments by The Dashboard Spy

The Dashboard Spy — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 14:52:50 GMT

Thanks for the excellent article. What would you think about the following? Would it be too “dangerous” to also include some powerpoint pages that have some wireframing elements that are editable by the user? I find that, after presenting the type of slide show you describe in your article, the users have lots of ideas that the want to “try out”. Rather than longish cycles of them trying to express their latest thoughts to you and then you adjusting the wireframes and then re-presenting, how about including a powerpoint template that is prepopulated with editable “blanks”. Sorry, I’m not being so clear – maybe I can show you the concept: I work with a lot of enterprise dashboard projects. After determining an initial dashboard layout, I give the users a powerpoint dashboard template “blank” to fool around with. Can you take a look at this dashboard wireframe PowerPoint template and comment on this approach.

The Dashboard Spy — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 14:52:50 GMT

In regards to the level of visualization and the risk of “chart junk”, I believe that it is more desirable to have a dashboard full of whiz-bang junk that is embraced by the user community than a “correct” dashboard that is never used. I’ve found that what users like translates to funding for further phases and that, within reason, we should give the users the thrills they seek. Look at the hundreds of enterprise dashboard screenshots here and you’ll see that the best designed dashboards run the risk of being a little overboard in the jazzy graphics department. It makes the users feel good. Let’s feed their habit?

The Dashboard Spy — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 21:52:26 GMT

It’s been almost a year since my comment above urging the “make the end users happy” approach to executive dashboard design and I still hold that position after several interesting and politically-charged dashboard projects. The dashboard project sponsors want that “wow” factor – after all they paid for the dashboard and want the sizzle to make an impact. The collection of screenshots of actual enterprise dashboard implementations at http://www.enterprise-dashboard.com has grown now to over 850! There are a wide range of visual preferences exhibited there.