Drafting a dashboard

In this exercise, you’ll have the opportunity to create a simplified strategic dashboard for your organisation/project. This exercise will help you apply the principles of dashboard creation discussed in the article and gain hands-on experience in drafting a dashboard.

Instructions:

Select a Project: Choose a project or initiative to base your dashboard on. This could be a business project, a personal goal, or a community initiative.
Identify Key Metrics: Determine the most critical performance metrics for your project. These metrics should directly relate to your project’s goals and objectives. For example, if your project is to increase website traffic, your key metrics might include the number of visitors, bounce rate, and conversion rate.
Design Your Dashboard: Create a simple layout for your dashboard. You can use software like Excel, Google Sheets, or dedicated dashboard tools if available. Your dashboard should include:
- Visual representations (charts, graphs, or progress bars) for each key metric.
- Clear labels and titles for each metric.
- A time frame for tracking (e.g., daily, weekly, monthly).
- A section for notes or comments.
Input Data: Populate your dashboard with data for each key metric. You can create a timeline of data points representing the progress of your project. Remember that the data should be aligned with your project’s goals.
Analyse and Interpret: Examine the dashboard and analyse the data you’ve input. What do the numbers or visuals tell you about the project’s progress? Are you on track to meet your objectives? What insights can you gather from the data?
Make Hypothetical Decisions: Based on the data and insights you’ve gathered, make hypothetical decisions or adjustments to your project. For example, if you see a declining trend in website traffic, consider what changes you might make to reverse that trend.
Present Your Dashboard: Share your dashboard with your team and explain the key metrics, data, and the decisions you’ve made based on the data.