Many excel dashboards are designed to be static. A data model is about providing a structure to how data is added and then updated on the excel dashboard without requiring excessive amount of time and energy. Any executive dashboard, whether it be static or interactive should not require excessive maintenance. If your data model is on track, then you should be doing less manual tasks in excel, not more. That is the main goal when developing your excel dashboards performance report.
Dashboards can be resource intensive. At the start you need to identify information needs of those who will receive your dashboard. Then you will need to create a mock-up and a list of processes starting from the data source to the finished report.
Things to consider
There are a few things you will need to consider in developing excel dashboard reports. How will your dashboard update with new data? Will you require outside technical help to get your dashboard up and running? Will it be mainly static or dynamic?
Data, analysis and dashboard
One important concept in data modelling is the separation of data, analysis and dashboard presentation. There should be at least three worksheets in your data model. Sometimes there is the formatting stage, which involves adding extra fields to your data list in order to get it ready for analysis.
Most reports usually have all three parts built into one spreadsheet. The first is the data itself which you would need to convert into an excel list for use in pivottables. The second is the analysis of the data that will be used for the dashboard report which is the final part. Using this type of structure should allow much more flexibility.
The analysis phase of an excel dashboard consists of pivot tables and formulas that pull data from the data list in order to create staging tables for charts and other dashboard components. However, fixing your table structure in your analysis phase, will lock you into specific analysis/calculations.
Dashboards can be resource intensive. At the start you need to identify information needs of those who will receive your dashboard. Then you will need to create a mock-up and a list of processes starting from the data source to the finished report.
Things to consider
There are a few things you will need to consider in developing excel dashboard reports. How will your dashboard update with new data? Will you require outside technical help to get your dashboard up and running? Will it be mainly static or dynamic?
Data, analysis and dashboard
One important concept in data modelling is the separation of data, analysis and dashboard presentation. There should be at least three worksheets in your data model. Sometimes there is the formatting stage, which involves adding extra fields to your data list in order to get it ready for analysis.
Most reports usually have all three parts built into one spreadsheet. The first is the data itself which you would need to convert into an excel list for use in pivottables. The second is the analysis of the data that will be used for the dashboard report which is the final part. Using this type of structure should allow much more flexibility.
The analysis phase of an excel dashboard consists of pivot tables and formulas that pull data from the data list in order to create staging tables for charts and other dashboard components. However, fixing your table structure in your analysis phase, will lock you into specific analysis/calculations.
About the Author:
New VBA interactive excel dashboard, comes with fully working examples to help get you started. Read more about creating an executive dashboard.
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