The dashboard is the tip of the iceberg

Building dashboards is easy. Getting accurate current data, visibility of performance and valuable insights into dashboards is the challenge.

A Programme Director asks, “Build me a dashboard that provides me with the information I need to control my programme, manage performance, and give confidence that the projects and other work will be delivered in line with cost, schedule, and quality. Tell me what I need to worry about so we can focus our limited resources where needed.”

Are we creating sufficient visibility of performance in our programme dashboard?

When looking at the data behind some management information dashboards, it is no surprise that visibility of performance, control, and foresight can be lacking on major programmes.

Dashboard creation is straightforward, and so is populating it with data at a snapshot in time. But, keeping the dashboard up to date automatically with validated, real-time, complete, and accurate data is more complex.

So, why is this? Inconsistent data models and taxonomy? A patchwork of disparate systems and data sets? No consistency? Manual data processing? A lack of confidence in the data? Reports that do not add value? Incomplete and expired data? From our experience, we see it is usually a combination of these issues.

How do organisations find themselves in this position?

Organisations are driven to deliver their capital programmes, with experienced professionals managing the processes and investing in resources and supply chain partners to execute. Yet, the issues prevail. There are a range of causes that include:

• The organisation may have grown organically without technology and data standards that drive consistency.
• Teams have autonomy to use technology as they want.
• Contracts don’t allow the retrospective imposition of technology and data standards and information requirements without commercial consideration.
• There is no overarching strategy that addresses these issues.

There are many more. We see this all the time – it is too common of an issue.

Setting up programmes for data-driven success

If you are in this position, there are foundational changes that should be considered:

• Systems and data taxonomy made consistent.
• The aggregation and processing of data is automated.
• There is an efficient and effective data validation and assurance.
• Stakeholders are engaged to ensure dashboards provide management information they need.

These are the foundations that make the visibility of performance easier by creating a single version of the truth you can trust, and management information that provides value. With these foundations we can automate the creation of a single version of the truth easily, despite many systems and users. This can enable more advanced analytics that leverage data to improve foresight and predictability.

Tackling the issue

Addressing the points above at the outset of a programme, or as you approach the delivery stage, will set you up for success. Doing this retrospectively can be extremely complex and difficult, especially when the disparate systems, data and processes are established and embedded. There are instances when you would not want to embark on making changes to put those foundations in place despite the clear benefits.

We have helped many clients with this challenge, developing options that cut through the complexity, enable decision making and provide a clear way forward. There are combinations of ways to improve the position without embarking on a significant change programme that you may have no appetite for.

The level of maturity you are aiming for is important to define. Sometimes it may not be worth intervening in all aspects. But it is worth remembering that creating new dashboards without fixing the data ecosystem behind them probably won’t bring the value you are looking for.

This is a specialist endeavor. We use existing, standard technology, bespoke solutions, unique technologies, or combinations of these to address the disparate nature of systems and data sets, the inconsistency in approach, wasted manual time, and the lack of value from your management information. We implement the improvements that enable valuable management information to control your programme, manage performance, and give confidence and predictability.