Data Visualization with Excel Dashboards and Reports

Large corporations like IBM and Oracle are using Excel dashboards and reports as a Business Intelligence tool, and many other smaller businesses are turning to these tools to cut costs for budgetary reasons. An effective analyst not only needs the technical skills to use Excel productively but must also be able to synthesise data into a story and present that story in the most impactful way. Microsoft acknowledges this with Excel, focusing significantly on business intelligence and visualisation. Data Visualization with Excel Dashboards and Reports bridges the gap between handling data and synthesising it into meaningful reports, guiding readers to think about their data beyond columns and rows.

Most Excel books adequately discuss the individual functions and tools that can be used to create an "Excel Report." Titles on Excel charts, Excel pivot tables, and books focused on "Tips and Tricks" are useful; however, they often miss the mark for most data analysts. The primary reason these titles fall short is their focus on the mechanical aspects of building charts, creating pivot tables, or other functionalities, without offering an overarching view of presenting and reporting data effectively.

What are the most meaningful ways to show trending? How do you show relationships in data? When is showing variances more valuable than showing actual data values? How do you deal with outliers? How do you bucket data most meaningfully? How do you present vast amounts of data without overwhelming your audience? In Data Visualization with Excel Dashboards and Reports, readers will find answers to all these questions. Part technical manual, part analytical guidebook, this title will help Excel users evolve from reporting data with simple tables of dull numbers to creating impactful reports and dashboards that visually and substantively impress management. The book offers a comprehensive review of an array of technical and analytical concepts essential for creating meaningful reports and dashboards.

After reading this book, the reader will be able to:

• Analyse large amounts of data and report their data meaningfully
• Gain better visibility into data from various perspectives
• Quickly slice data into different views instantly
• Automate redundant reporting and analyses
• Create impressive dashboards and What-If analyses
• Understand the fundamentals of effective visualisation
• Visualise performance comparisons
• Visualise changes and trends over time