Review Dashboard Design Template

Simplify complex data

Dashboards distill large volumes of data into key metrics that provide meaningful context. Rather than requiring users to analyze raw data, dashboards present information in an easily digestible format.

Improve decision making

By displaying real-time or near-real-time information, dashboards enable timely decisions based on current data rather than outdated reports.

Increase efficiency

Users can quickly absorb information from visual representations, reducing the time spent analyzing data and allowing more time for action.

Provide Transparency

Dashboards create a single source of truth that can be shared across an organization, ensuring everyone works with the same information.

Track Performance

They allow continuous monitoring of key performance indicators (KPIs) against established goals and benchmarks.

Understand Your Audience

Start by identifying who will use the dashboard and what decisions they need to make.

Different users have different needs:

• Executives may need high-level strategic metrics

• Managers might require operational KPIs

Define Clear Objectives

A good dashboard serves a specific purpose

• What questions should this dashboard answer?

• Provide instructions on what actions should users take based on this information

• Which KPIs are most relevant to these objectives?

Choose the Right Metrics

Select metrics that:

• Directly relate to business objectives

• Are actionable (users can do something in response)

• Represent meaningful outcomes, not just activities

• Include leading indicators (predictive) and lagging indicators (results)

Apply Thoughtful Visual Design

A well designed dashboard makes it easier for people to read

• Place the important information at the top

• Choose appropriate chart types

• Avoid information overload

• Allow people to drill-down and explore data in-depth

Ensure Context and Relevance

Context transforms data into information:

• Include targets or benchmarks alongside current metrics

• Show historical trends to provide perspective

• Use conditional formatting to highlight exceptions

• Add brief annotations to explain significant anomalies

Schedule Regular Reviews

Without regular use, dashboards can become outdated or misaligned with evolving business needs

• Remind stakeholders to review dashboards periodically

• Refine based on feedback

• Check if the data sources are still relevant

• Refresh dashboards with new priorities and KPI

Facilitate collaboration

Transform dashboards from passive information displays into active collaboration hubs

• Encouraging stakeholders to discuss insights by commenting directly on the dashboard to maintain context

• Promoting common understanding across different teams with same data visualization

• Tracking participation

• Permissions for access controls and privacy

What is the purpose of this dashboard? What is it trying to achieve?

Who is the person/team who owns this dashboard and can modify it later?

Who are the users who needs to review the dashboards

• who are accountable for the KPIs

• who can act in response

• who can answer

How often should the dashboard be review?

What is the metric being tracked? Examples:

• SLA

• Performance

• Velocity

What question is this metric trying to answer?

Why is this important?

How can people visualize the metric easily? Which type of Jira gadgets is suitable?

When do people need to take action? (e.g. threshold)

What actions people need to take in response?