Comments on: KPIs and Custom Chart Types http://blog.instantcognition.com/web-analytics/tools/2006/08/28/kpis-and-custom-chart-types/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=kpis-and-custom-chart-types a discussion of visual report design & web analytics Sat, 10 Jul 2010 04:13:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: Mukund http://blog.instantcognition.com/web-analytics/tools/2006/08/28/kpis-and-custom-chart-types/comment-page-1/#comment-23761 Mukund Sat, 04 Oct 2008 11:58:01 +0000 http://blog.instantcognition.com/2006/08/28/kpis-and-custom-chart-types/#comment-23761 How do you add two needles to the tachometer ??? How do you add two needles to the tachometer ???

]]> By: A Gauge Chart That Works? » Instant Cognition http://blog.instantcognition.com/web-analytics/tools/2006/08/28/kpis-and-custom-chart-types/comment-page-1/#comment-22777 A Gauge Chart That Works? » Instant Cognition Fri, 18 Jul 2008 06:43:01 +0000 http://blog.instantcognition.com/2006/08/28/kpis-and-custom-chart-types/#comment-22777 [...] Then I explained all that was wrong with using speedometers in a business context and beyond that how hard they are to create and maintain. [...] [...] Then I explained all that was wrong with using speedometers in a business context and beyond that how hard they are to create and maintain. [...]

]]> By: Web Analytics Demystified » Blog Archive » Good old oblivious Clint is building fun Excel stuff for all of us! http://blog.instantcognition.com/web-analytics/tools/2006/08/28/kpis-and-custom-chart-types/comment-page-1/#comment-6994 Web Analytics Demystified » Blog Archive » Good old oblivious Clint is building fun Excel stuff for all of us! Sun, 04 Mar 2007 06:26:32 +0000 http://blog.instantcognition.com/2006/08/28/kpis-and-custom-chart-types/#comment-6994 [...] unfairly criticizes himself for missing my reference to his work a few weeks back but responds with a cool tachometer visualization in Excel that you can download and use for your own key performance indicators. One of Clint’s readers [...] [...] unfairly criticizes himself for missing my reference to his work a few weeks back but responds with a cool tachometer visualization in Excel that you can download and use for your own key performance indicators. One of Clint’s readers [...]

]]> By: Clint http://blog.instantcognition.com/web-analytics/tools/2006/08/28/kpis-and-custom-chart-types/comment-page-1/#comment-466 Clint Tue, 29 Aug 2006 18:37:21 +0000 http://blog.instantcognition.com/2006/08/28/kpis-and-custom-chart-types/#comment-466 Chris, upon further reflection, I would also say that color choice is critical to the success of the bullet graph (above and beyond the normal importance of color/shade choices in a chart) which can make it difficult to make them sing - especially in excel. Chris, upon further reflection, I would also say that color choice is critical to the success of the bullet graph (above and beyond the normal importance of color/shade choices in a chart) which can make it difficult to make them sing – especially in excel.

]]> By: Clint http://blog.instantcognition.com/web-analytics/tools/2006/08/28/kpis-and-custom-chart-types/comment-page-1/#comment-465 Clint Tue, 29 Aug 2006 18:13:30 +0000 http://blog.instantcognition.com/2006/08/28/kpis-and-custom-chart-types/#comment-465 Certainly an elegant solution. But I have this little voice in my head whispering 'You'll be explaining how to read this graph to the uninitiated from now until next christmas!' Or I'll have to add too much labeling to explain it and it will be overrun by chart junk. Have you used it effectively within your business? (e.g. minimal explanation & training to your clients on how to use and interpret? Certainly an elegant solution. But I have this little voice in my head whispering ‘You’ll be explaining how to read this graph to the uninitiated from now until next christmas!’ Or I’ll have to add too much labeling to explain it and it will be overrun by chart junk. Have you used it effectively within your business? (e.g. minimal explanation & training to your clients on how to use and interpret?

]]> By: chris.gemignani http://blog.instantcognition.com/web-analytics/tools/2006/08/28/kpis-and-custom-chart-types/comment-page-1/#comment-459 chris.gemignani Tue, 29 Aug 2006 14:57:58 +0000 http://blog.instantcognition.com/2006/08/28/kpis-and-custom-chart-types/#comment-459 Clint, I was just received a link with a wonderful detailed description of how to do bullet charts in Excel. Here it is: http://www.exceluser.com/explore/bullet.htm. Bullet charts are an alternative to gauges that convey information better. Like gauges, they also will have people commenting "OMG! I didn't know you could do that in Excel!" Whadyathink?, Chris Clint,

I was just received a link with a wonderful detailed description of how to do bullet charts in Excel. Here it is: http://www.exceluser.com/explore/bullet.htm. Bullet charts are an alternative to gauges that convey information better.

Like gauges, they also will have people commenting “OMG! I didn’t know you could do that in Excel!”

Whadyathink?, Chris

]]> By: Clint http://blog.instantcognition.com/web-analytics/tools/2006/08/28/kpis-and-custom-chart-types/comment-page-1/#comment-456 Clint Tue, 29 Aug 2006 14:26:01 +0000 http://blog.instantcognition.com/2006/08/28/kpis-and-custom-chart-types/#comment-456 Chris, I agree, gauges do not typically show historical context (and you can get into trouble because of it). So a report using them is incomplete without some nod to providing that historical context. However, KPIs can be used without historical context if they are matched against a target value (ack! my conversion rate has fallen below 1%). If you extend your 'every few seconds' example from driving down the highway to every day or week or whatever period is appropriate for the KPI, it works just as well - the time frame is just different, that's all. When I do use these types of charts, I typically make sure to provide historical context in two ways. 1. If it's a gauge, then it will have two 'hands' (pointers) - one for the current period and one for the previous period. This provides the immediate context 2. A time series chart of the data in the gauge provides the broader context. Finally, thanks for the compliment! -Clint Chris,
I agree, gauges do not typically show historical context (and you can get into trouble because of it). So a report using them is incomplete without some nod to providing that historical context. However, KPIs can be used without historical context if they are matched against a target value (ack! my conversion rate has fallen below 1%). If you extend your ‘every few seconds’ example from driving down the highway to every day or week or whatever period is appropriate for the KPI, it works just as well – the time frame is just different, that’s all.

When I do use these types of charts, I typically make sure to provide historical context in two ways.
1. If it’s a gauge, then it will have two ‘hands’ (pointers) – one for the current period and one for the previous period. This provides the immediate context
2. A time series chart of the data in the gauge provides the broader context.

Finally, thanks for the compliment!
-Clint

]]> By: chris.gemignani http://blog.instantcognition.com/web-analytics/tools/2006/08/28/kpis-and-custom-chart-types/comment-page-1/#comment-455 chris.gemignani Tue, 29 Aug 2006 14:07:08 +0000 http://blog.instantcognition.com/2006/08/28/kpis-and-custom-chart-types/#comment-455 Gack! There are some real problems with using speedometer charts to communicate: * Doesn't show historical context well (or at all). * Dials show a fixed range of values (visitor growth could be well over 100%, what if you get slashdotted!) * Hard to read at a glance--real speedometers work because you're glancing at them every few seconds so you maintain a continuous awareness of their value. This won't be that case with most corporate uses. On the other hand, the spreadsheet you provide is a really nice clean illustration of how to make these advanced features of Excel work together. Gack! There are some real problems with using speedometer charts to communicate:

* Doesn’t show historical context well (or at all).
* Dials show a fixed range of values (visitor growth could be well over 100%, what if you get slashdotted!)
* Hard to read at a glance–real speedometers work because you’re glancing at them every few seconds so you maintain a continuous awareness of their value. This won’t be that case with most corporate uses.

On the other hand, the spreadsheet you provide is a really nice clean illustration of how to make these advanced features of Excel work together.

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