How do you guide project management with data visualization?

2 Choose the right type of data visualization

There are many types of data visualizations, such as charts, graphs, maps, tables, timelines, and infographics. Each type has its own strengths and weaknesses, and can convey different messages and insights. You need to choose the type that best suits your data, your audience, and your purpose. For example, if you want to show the distribution of your project resources, you might want to use a pie chart or a treemap. If you want to show the trends and patterns of your project performance, you might want to use a line chart or a bar chart. If you want to show the relationships and dependencies of your project tasks, you might want to use a Gantt chart or a network diagram.

3 Design your data visualization with clarity and simplicity

When designing a data visualization, you need to ensure clarity and simplicity. This means avoiding clutter, confusion, and distortion. To do this, use appropriate colors, fonts, and symbols that are consistent and meaningful. Labels, legends, and titles should be clear and concise. Additionally, scales, axes, and grids should be accurate and proportional. Filters, sorting, and grouping should be relevant and logical. Finally, highlights, annotations, and tooltips should be helpful and informative.

4 Present your data visualization with context and narrative

Finally, when presenting your data visualization, you need to provide context and narrative. This includes a catchy and informative title that summarizes the main message, a subtitle or summary that provides key details and facts, a narrative or story that connects the data points and reveals insights and actions, and questions, prompts, or calls to action that engage your audience. Data visualization can be a powerful tool for project management, as it can help you communicate complex information, track progress, identify risks, and make informed decisions. By following these tips and best practices, you can create and use data visualizations effectively for project management.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?