Despite their best intentions, many business professionals don’t know which visual analytics to apply. Thus, today’s post on the do’s and don’ts of business charts.
Why is this so important? As we have noted before, data analytics now represent a huge opportunity. For example, see: Data Analytics Can Enhance Customer Experiences. Data Analytics Can Help Predict Consumer Behavior. Thinking About a Career in Data Analytics? Ever Wondered What You Can Do with Google Analytics? And Social Media Analytics: A Tower Framework.
The Do’s and Don’ts of Business Charts
For simplicity’s sake, SlideHeroes.com devised an excellent infographic on this topic. According to the firm:
“To convince and persuade in today’s corporate world businesspeople must construct evidence-based arguments. They must demonstrate, not simply assert. Using the right chart during your presentation is essential to demonstrating your point. Even though everyone is familiar with a few basic business charts, most people aren’t adept at using charts to their fullest data-visualization potential. Whiz-bang features like animations or sequentially revealed charts are not the answer. Instead, you need to begin with an understanding of what message or point you want your data to communicate, and which type of chart best illustrates this kind of data-driven point.”
“The primary concern while making a presentation is ensuring that your audience will understand the point you are making (the answer to the question you have planted in the mind of the audience). If your audience does not understand your data or does not follow your presentation closely enough due to disengagement, you will not get your point across to them. Your job as presenter is twofold: (1) Present your data accurately, in a manner that conveys your point or message. And (2) Present your data in a way that makes it easy to understand.”
“Making effective charts goes hand in hand with being able to present those charts effectively. But specific chart types are better at presenting certain data relationships than others. It is critical to understand what data relationship you are trying to highlight, and what chart type best illustrates this type of relationship.”
