The solution: Focus on the deviation, not on completeness

An effective management dashboard works exactly the opposite way. It doesn’t start with the details, but with the big picture. The approach is not to present the twenty columns of data, but to use them as a source for a few powerful, clear visualizations.

1. Show the trends first: Visualize the key trends. How do planned costs compare to actual expenditures over time? How is the project lead time changing?
2. Highlight the deviations: Show which projects deviate significantly from the schedule or budget. Draw the manager's attention immediately to the exceptions that require action.
3. Make the details available via “drill-down”: The underlying details haven’t gone anywhere. They’re just one click away. If a manager notices a discrepancy in the visualization, he or she can click through immediately to view the twenty columns of details for that specific project.

This approach is at the heart of effective management information for housing authorities. It changes the way managers handle data.

From Data Archaeology to Strategic Decision-Making

This method results in a fundamental shift. Managers no longer have to plow through mountains of data like archaeologists in search of a potential insight. The insight immediately stands out and calls for action.

The question asked in meetings shifts from “What do all these numbers mean?” to “I see a discrepancy here—what’s causing it, and how are we going to address it?” The dashboard transforms from a passive report into an active decision-making tool. And that is the only true measure of a successful BI project.