In this presentation we review the main topics about BI Dashboards with SQL Server 2008 R2. Regards, Ing. Eduardo Castro Microsoft SQL Server MVP http://ecastrom.blogspot.com http://comunidadwindows.org

1. Eduardo Castro
Microsoft MVP
ecastro@mswindowscr.org
http://comunidadwindows.org
http://ecastrom.blogspot.com

2. Using Business Intelligence (BI)
Introducing Microsoft BI
Delivering BI with Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2

3. A category of methodologies and technologies for
gathering, storing, analyzing and providing access to data
to help enterprise users make business decisions.

4. Summarize business critical operations
Purchasing, finance, investments, etc…
Used at multiple organizational level
Executive, Accounting, Personal
Often embedded in larger processes

6. To improve organizations by providing
business insights to all employees, leading
to better, faster, more relevant decisions
• Microsoft has a long-term commitment to
delivering a complete and integrated BI
offering
• SQL Server has led innovation in the BI
space for more than a decade
• There is widespread delivery of intelligence
through Microsoft Office
• The platforms are enterprise-grade and
affordable

7. DELIVERY
SharePoint Server
Reports Excel
Dashboards Workbooks Analytic Scorecards PowerPivot
Views
END USER TOOLS
Excel PowerPivot
DATA PLATFORM
SQL Server SQL Server
Reporting Services Analysis Services
SQL Server DBMS
SQL Server Integration Services StreamInsight
Events

8. Familiar User Experience
Business User Experience Self-service Access and Insight
Data Exploration and Analysis
Predictive Analysis
Data Visualization
Contextual Visualization
Integrated Content and Collaboration
Business Collaboration Platform Thin Clients
Dashboards
BI Search
Content Management
Compositions
Information Platform Information Platform
Analysis Services
Reporting Services
Integration Services
Master Data
Data Mining Services
Data Warehousing

9. Specialized BI for
BI Tools
Everyone

10. Database Integration Analysis Reporting Master Data
StreamInsight
Engine Services Services Services Services
Relational Classic
Managed
Data OLAP Data
ETL Reporting
Management Management
Processing
Complex
Self Service Master Data
Replication Event Data Mining
Reporting Management
Processing
Data
Profiling PowerPivot*
Full Text Embedded
Self Service
Search Reporting
Analytics

12. Cubes in SQL Server 2008 R2

13. Provides an interface familiar to most information workers
Supports basic, advanced, and embedded analysis
Integrates with SQL Server and Analysis Services as well
as other data sources
Includes a new add-in for highly-performing data integration
and analysis
Enables collaboration through server workbooks shared
across the Web
Supplements portals and dashboards

14. Manages compressed storage of, and extremely
fast querying and reporting from, large volumes of
related tabular data
Data can be loaded from a variety of data sources
Leverages familiar Excel features
Uses Data Analysis Expressions (DAX) for
sophisticated
transformation of data
Supports publication of PowerPivot workbooks to
SharePoint

15. In-memory Data Cubes in Excel
Excel addin allows creation of cube
Cube persisted in the Excel Workbook
Consumers of workbook have access to cube
Excel Services
Gemini
Browser
Excel
Workbook

16. Server hosting of Excel calculation engine
Provides a web thin client for Excel workbooks
Excel aggregates data from multiple sources
Exposes data using REST and JavaScript
Browser
Excel 2007
Custom
applications

17. Excel Services exposed using Web Parts
Web Parts display named items
Parameters exposed as Web Part connections
Parameter changes will update charts
Allows real time feedback to users

18. Creating a BI Dashboard with Excel 2010

20. Performance
Status Chart Web
Point
Indicators Parts
Services
Excel Visio
BI Search
Services Services

21. Simple web parts that provide visualization
Quick summary of data
Can access multiple data sources
Fixed Values
Lists and External Lists
Excel Services Other Web Parts
SQL Analysis Services Lists and External Lists
Excel Services

22. Context-driven dashboards across systems
Provides transparency and accountability
Interactive access using browser
Can be created/updated by IT professional

23. Professional report authoring environment
Designed for developer or IT professional
Does not ship with SharePoint 2010
SP 2010 has Reporting Services Web Parts
Used to create professional reports for BI apps

24. Extends the reach of search to BI elements
Adds Excel and Reporting Services to search
Presents results based on dimensions
Links directly to specific view of the report

25. Evolution of the Reporting Center template
Predefined lists for PPS, Excel Services
Starting point for BI portals

27. Visual displays of mission critical analysis
Answers fundamental business questions
Single screen display of information
“Real Time” summary of data
Interactive links to details

28. Provides an overall view of status indicators
Modeled after the business not the data
Manages key performance indicators (KPIs)
Often included as part of a dashboard
Balanced
Scorecard Certified

29. Dashboard designer used to create content
ClickOnce application launched from browser
Manages content directly in SharePoint
Lists for content, data sources, dashboards

30. Data access is managed with Data Sources
Data is accessible from multiple sources
Ex. Analysis Services, Excel, Lists, SQL, etc…
Accessed with service account or current user
Stored in list as an XML file (*.ppsdc)

31. Business users view content in the browser
Stored as Web Part pages
Web Part connections used to relate content
Ex. Item choice in a scorecard updates reports

32. Decomposition trees allow data exploration
New in SharePoint 2010
Available by right clicking data in browser
Analyze -> Decomposition Tree
Allows filteringexpanding across dimensions

35. Visual Display
of the
most important information
needed to achieve one or more
objectives
which fits entirely on a
single computer screen
so it can be
monitored at a glance
Information Dashboard Design
By Stephen Few

36. Some are Better
Than Others

37. Specific – Clear on what is being measured
Measurable – Accurate and consistent
Actionable– Influence to alter the outcome
Relevant– Significance and leverage
Timely – Appropriate intervals

38. Key
Data/Metric
s In Context
Dense Zero
Information Learning
Not Curve
Cluttered
Single Page
Graphically
Oriented
Access to
Highlight
Supporting
Exceptions
Details

39. “Single Page” “Graphical”
No Scrolling Displays Patterns
Nothing Hidden Abstract Data
Linked Content Minimal Grids
Better
Dashboard
All Relevant Info Design Domain Aware
One Place to Look Leverages
Not Data Driven Knowledge
“Disparate Data” “Guided Analytics”

40. Key Data/Metrics
High level performance metrics
Generally tied to goals and bonuses
Focus on actionable data
Disparate sources
Context
The 3Ts = Target, Trend, Typical
Similar/Related Data/Metrics
Basis for interpretation

41. Dense Information
All relevant data/metrics
Different perspectives
Not Cluttered – “At a Glance”
It is not how much, but how well
Easy to view,The Visualan eyeTufte Information
not Display of Quantitative
Edward R.
chart
Data-Ink Ratio ( )
Non-essential ink should be removed
Supporting ink (axis lines) = low visual impact

42. Dashboard viewing is not a person’s job
Oriented at casual users, line mgt, & execs
Little/No accumulated experience
Each viewing is the first time
Dashboards are not analytical tools
But they provide guided analytics
Targeted to a Person/Role/Problem Set

43. Outliers should POP out Visual Cues
Highlight Both Color
Problems Size
Opportunities Shape
What is an Exception?
Boldness
> 1 Std Dev, 2…. Five9s Position
When action needs be taken Icons

44. Dashboards are not an Associated
end unto themselves Layers
Contextual Guided
Content Updates Analytics Update
Dashboard
Webparts
Links to
New Pages Hierarchical
Drill-Down
Root Cause
Analysis
Ad Hoc Analysis Detail Reports

45. Scorecards Diagrams
Grids Charts
Gauges Maps
Tree Map Decomp Tree
And So
Much More……

46. Color
Use Color Sparingly – Generally Soft Colors
Highlighting – Bold Colors
Different Colors = Different Meaning
Try shades of grey
Use a Single Hue
Increase the intensity for low to high values
Remember - 7% of men are color blind
A dashboard is not a painting
Usefulness is Paramount

47. When to use:
Values are familiar
Need to lookup a value
Small differences are important
Mixed units of measure
Design Considerations
Try to keep square-ish
Comparisons are done by column
Limit length with Top/Bottom

48. Highlights
Items of interest
Data Bars
Helpful to read magnitude
Color Scales/Icons Icons
Can overwhelm the data are best used to:
Arrows Replace
Used for change over time data to save space
Show
variance or score

49. Are a special type of grid
Created for KPIs and Objectives
Can be methodology oriented
Balanced Scorecard, 6 Sigma, …
Used as a navigation aid
A list with data
Scorecards
are less about data
and more about process

50. Score
Catalog
Budget
Audited Plan
Forecast
Accurate Scorecards
Tolerances Benchmarks
Approved
Perspectives
Initiatives
KPIs
Organize
Metrics
Measures
Data

51. Lines Charts – Time Series oriented
Highlights trend, patterns or variability
Highlights relationships between series
Trend lines & projections can be added
Bar Chart – Comparison Oriented
Categorical comparisons within a dimension http://www.symcorp.com
Nominal comparisons across data (sales to cost)
Pie Charts – Part to Whole
Only works with small sets
Hard to visually quantify
A lot of space for not much data

52. If the dashboard is not
visually appealing, 1 Page – 6#s
people will not go to it
If the dashboard is not
effective and practical,
people will not use it Pretty Yes! Useful?
What is fun
the first time
Might be boring
the 100th time
Too Dense?

53. Horizontal
Long labels
Pattern comparisons
Long-ish lists
Vertical
Groups with in groups
Stacked and 100% Bars
Pareto Charts
Doesn’t work for large numbers of groups
Bars are easily drilled into

54. Effective
Great
Mixing Of
Data-Ink
Charts &
Ratio
Trellis Values Small
Charts Multiples
Introduction of
Sparklines & Bullet Graphs

55. A bullet graph is a variation of a bar
graph developed by Stephen Few.
Seemingly inspired by the traditional
thermometer charts and progress bars
found in many dashboards, the bullet
graph serves as a replacement for
Symmetry’s
dashboard gauges and meters Variation
Sales
Costs
Black Bar = Value
Green/Red Bar = Target
Blue Pointer = Last Year

56. Useful in
showing regional
components
Maps are great for
demographics
Impact grids
can be effective
Be careful of charts
within a map

57. When using a set of
Hard to set gauge scale
gauges expected value
for the general case
should be straight up
Best for continuous process
Poor Data-Ink Ratio

58. Balanced Scorecard Process Diagram
Strategy Map
Diagrams are
underutilized
Graphical Representations
Impact Diagram Root Cause/Fishbone Diagram

59. Show the data
Focus on the substance of the numbers
Don’t distort the data
Present many numbers in a small space
Encourage comparisons
Show data in several perspectives
The Visual Display of Quantitative Information
Edward R. Tufte

60. Number of Frames
Up to 4 is good, no more than 6
Frame Proportions
Size = implied importance
Uniform otherwise
Location
Top left = primary focus
Bottom right = supporting detail
Off page = irrelevant
Printing
The dirty little secret

61. Different frame on same page
Must fit on the page
Can drill from here to new page
New page in same browser
Easy to get back
Full page available
New browser tab/window
Allows for comparisons
Users must close windows/tabs

62. A tiered set of dashboards based on
role or function
A set of grids, graphs, or
visualizations that examine a single
metric
A set of detailed reports or ad-hoc
analytics
http://www.symcorp.com

63. Identify the key dimensions for the metric
Customer, product, department
Drill into one or more of these
Top 10 rankings
Identify the audience
Marketing manager – Drill to product
Sales Manager – Drill to customer

65. • Business Intelligence (BI) Primer
• BI Tools in SharePoint 2010
• Excel Services
• Performance Point Services

67. Show Me the Numbers: Designing Tables and Graphs to Enlighten
Stephen Few
Information Dashboard Design: The Effective Visual Communication of Data
Stephen Few
The Visual Display of Quantitative Information, 2nd edition
Edward R. Tufte
http://www.perceptualedge.com/
http://dashboardspy.com/
Symmetry Corp – www.symcorp.com

68. Eduardo Castro
Microsoft MVP
ecastro@mswindowscr.org
http://comunidadwindows.org
http://ecastrom.blogspot.com