Preface

15

Target Audience

15

How to Read This Book

15

How This Book Is Organized

16

Conclusion

17

1 Introduction

19

1.1 What Is a Dashboard?

19

1.1.1 Case Study Introduction

19

1.1.2 A Short History of Dashboards

21

1.1.3 Definitions of Dashboards

22

1.1.4 Dashboards and Their Design in SAP Analytics Cloud

23

1.2 What a Dashboard Needs to Be Successful

24

1.3 Ten Golden Rules for Business Dashboard Design

28

1.3.1 Ten Golden Rules

28

1.3.2 Fostering Successful Dashboard Design

34

1.4 Benefits of a Dashboard

34

1.5 Key Roles Involved in Designing Dashboards

36

1.6 Summary

39

2 Implementing Successful Dashboards

41

2.1 Managing Change for Dashboard Implementation

41

2.1.1 Context Factors Influencing Change Management

42

2.1.2 Management Support and Vision

43

2.1.3 Cross-Functional Teams and Project Champions

43

2.1.4 Data Quality and Integrity

44

2.1.5 User-Centered Design

45

2.1.6 Project Split and Creation of Short-Term Wins

45

2.1.7 Enablement

46

2.1.8 Measuring the Success of Dashboards

47

2.2 User-Centered Design Methods

48

2.2.1 Design Thinking

48

2.2.2 Know Your Users and the Data

49

2.2.3 Prototyping

56

2.2.4 Evaluate and Iterate with Consumers

58

2.3 Enabling and Upskilling

60

2.3.1 Becoming a Dashboard Designer

60

2.3.2 Enabling and Upskilling Dashboard Consumers

63

2.4 Measuring the Success of Dashboards

67

2.4.1 Summative Evaluations

68

2.4.2 Drivers That Influence the Success of Your Dashboards

69

2.4.3 Quantitative Success Measures for Your Dashboards

71

2.4.4 A Framework for Choosing User Experience Metrics

75

2.4.5 Qualitative Success Indicators for Your Dashboards

76

2.5 Summary

77

3 Dashboards Using Acquired Data

79

3.1 Scenario

81

3.1.1 Golden Rule 1: Container

83

3.1.2 Golden Rule 2: Comparison

84

3.1.3 Golden Rule 6: Construction

84

3.1.4 Golden Rule 7: Color

86

3.1.5 Golden Rule 8: Contrast

86

3.1.6 Golden Rule 9: Consistency and Integrity

87

3.1.7 Golden Rule 10: Communication

87

3.2 Data Structure

88

3.2.1 What Is Acquired Data and Why Use It?

88

3.2.2 A Data Set or a Model: Which One to Use?

88

3.2.3 Building a Model

89

3.3 Dashboard Features

92

3.3.1 Visualize the Sales Dashboard Layout

92

3.3.2 Decide Where to Put Different Types of Information

93

3.4 Creating the Dashboard

94

3.4.1 Importing and Viewing the Story Data in SAP Analytics Cloud

94

3.4.2 Building the Dashboard

97

3.4.3 Features That Support Consistent Dashboards

114

3.5 Summary

116

4 Responsive Mobile Dashboards

119

4.1 Scenario

119

4.2 Data Structure

119

4.3 Dashboard Features

120

4.3.1 Access on Mobile Devices

120

4.3.2 Responsive Design

120

4.3.3 Device Preview

124

4.4 Building the Dashboard

131

4.4.1 Design Adjustments for iOS Phones

131

4.4.2 Design Adjustments for iOS Tablets

139

4.4.3 Interaction and Collaboration on Mobile Devices

144

4.5 Summary

145

5 Dashboards Based on Live Data Connections

147

5.1 Scenario

147

5.1.1 Live Connection Decision

148

5.1.2 Dashboard Scenario

148

5.1.3 Dashboard Planning

150

5.2 Data Structure

154

5.2.1 Live Connection and Live Model

155

5.2.2 Available Data in SAP Business Warehouse

156

5.3 Dashboard Features

159

5.3.1 Input Controls

159

5.3.2 Linked Analysis

160

5.3.3 Changing the Order of Measures in Tables

160

5.3.4 Calculations

161

5.3.5 Hierarchies

161

5.3.6 Hyperlinks

161

5.4 Building the Dashboard

161

5.4.1 Header Area A0

162

5.4.2 Key Performance Indicator Area A1

163

5.4.3 Charts Area A2

168

5.4.4 Charts Area A3

172

5.4.5 Table Area A4

178

5.4.6 Filter Area A5

182

5.5 Summary

187

6 Dashboards for Planners and Controllers

189

6.1 Scenario

190

6.2 Data Structure

194

6.3 Dashboard Features

196

6.3.1 Designing IBCS-Compliant Dashboards for Planning

197

6.3.2 Using Tables for Planning

199

6.3.3 Value Driver Trees

205

6.4 Creating the Dashboard

208

6.4.1 Creating the Value Driver Tree

208

6.4.2 Locking Data Values

210

6.4.3 Data Locking Defined in the Planning Model

210

6.4.4 Locking Individual Cells Directly in the Table

212

6.4.5 Inserting a Variance Chart in a Column

212

6.5 Summary

215

7 Application-Based Dashboards with the Analytics Designer

217

7.1 Scenario

218

7.2 Data Structure

221

7.3 Dashboard Features

224

7.4 Creating the Dashboard

226

7.4.1 Creating the Analytic Application

226

7.4.2 Personalized Filter

228

7.4.3 Switch Toggle

229

7.4.4 Sliders

230

7.4.5 Scripting Variables

232

7.4.6 Geo Maps

232

7.4.7 Popups

234

7.4.8 Buttons

235

7.4.9 Dropdown Box

236

7.5 Summary

237

8 Dashboards Based on SAP S/4HANA Cloud Data

239

8.1 Scenario

240

8.2 Data Structure

241

8.3 Dashboard Features

242

8.4 Building the Dashboard

244

8.4.1 Create a Story

244

8.4.2 Header Area

244

8.4.3 Second Dashboard Area

246

8.4.4 Third Dashboard Area

249

8.4.5 Bind the Story to an Application

249

8.5 Summary

251

9 Dashboards Using Self-Scripted R Visualizations

253

9.1 Scenario

254

9.2 Data Structure

255

9.3 Dashboard Features

255

9.4 Creating the Dashboard

258

9.4.1 R Packages Available in SAP Analytics Cloud

258

9.4.2 Defining a New Chart in a Story Using an R Script

259

9.4.3 A Scatter Plot to Show Standard Deviation and True Values

260

9.4.4 A Histogram with a Fitted and Normal Distribution

263

9.4.5 A Word Cloud to Show Feedback with Weighted Opinions

265

9.4.6 A Pie Chart with an “Other” Category

267

9.5 Summary

268

10 Dashboards in SAP Digital Boardroom

271

10.1 Scenario

271

10.2 Data Structure

273

10.3 Presentation Features

273

10.4 Creating the Presentation

274

10.4.1 Dashboard Presentation

275

10.4.2 Agenda Presentation

295

10.4.3 Consuming and Presenting the SAP Digital Boardroom Presentation

297

10.5 Summary

298

11 Monitoring Dashboards Using Qualtrics and Usage Tracking Data

299

11.1 Scenario

299

11.2 Data Structure

301

11.2.1 Building the Model Based on Qualtrics Data

301

11.2.2 Inherent Models, Dashboards, and Applications for Usage and Performance Monitoring

304

11.3 Dashboard Features

305

11.4 Creating the Dashboard

306

11.4.1 Building the Dashboard.

306

11.4.2 Creating the Upper Area of the Dashboard

307

11.4.3 Creating the Second and Third Sections of the Dashboard

311

11.4.4 Creating the Bottom Section with a Table and an Explorer View

321

11.5 Summary

324

Appendices

325

A Style Guide

327

A.1 Color

327

A.2 Font

328

A.3 Logo

328

A.4 Layout

328

A.5 Further Guidelines for the Use of Text

329

B Further Reading

331

B.1 Chapter 1: Introduction

331

B.2 Chapter 2: Implementing Successful Dashboards

331

B.3 Chapter 3: Dashboards Using Acquired Data

332

B.4 Chapter 4: Responsive Mobile Dashboards

333

B.5 Chapter 5: Dashboards Based on Live Data Connections

333

B.6 Chapter 6: Dashboards for Planners and Controllers

334

B.7 Chapter 7: Application-Based Dashboards with the Analytics Designer

334

B.8 Chapter 8: Dashboards Based on SAP S/4HANA Cloud Data

335

B.9 Chapter 9: Dashboards Using Self-Scripted R Visualizations

335

B.10 Chapter 10: Dashboards in SAP Digital Boardroom

335

B.11 Chapter 11: Monitoring Dashboards Using Qualtrics and Usage Tracking Data

336

C The Authors

337