DEMONSTRATION ONLY · NOT A REAL PUBLICATION
Data · Business intelligence
From dashboards to decisions: the test of a useful KPI
A dashboard is not valuable because it contains many charts. Its value comes from helping someone understand a situation and choose an action.
This page is a design and format test. The examples and reasoning are illustrative, not based on a real company, transaction, dataset or research project.
Start with the decision
Before building a chart, define the decision it should support. A metric without a user, a question or a next step can become decoration rather than management information.
Four checks for a strong KPI
- Definition: is the calculation clear and consistent?
- Denominator: what is the metric measured against, and does that comparison make sense?
- Ownership: who is responsible for understanding and acting on it?
- Decision: what might change when the KPI moves outside its expected range?
The takeaway
Prefer a small set of trusted indicators with clear owners over a crowded dashboard. A good visual should reduce the distance between information and action.
Sample brief · Created to test the AGDBS publication format. Not investment, legal or professional advice.