How can you explain GIS project results to non-technical stakeholders?

When communicating GIS project results to non-technical stakeholders, it's crucial to focus on the practical implications. Use visual aids like maps and graphs to illustrate key findings. Explain the benefits in terms of informed decision-making, cost savings, and improved resource management. Emphasize how GIS enhances efficiency and accuracy in data analysis. Relate the outcomes to specific goals or challenges faced by the stakeholders. Offer training or workshops to enhance their understanding of GIS applications, ensuring effective utilization of the results for their objectives. Encourage questions and feedback to ensure their needs are met.

Identify the friction for your audience in using your data. I've made a lot of dashboards that have turned into screenshots because logging in and manipulating it is too much friction for the user. Is your user sharing this on? Is that a power-point slide or an emailed pdf? Know the audience's friction points.

Non-technical stakeholders want to know the impact of the GIS project on process efficiency and the overall economic viability of the activity. To do this, we need to explain the time savings in data capture, the quality and reliability of the data, and the ability for teams to do rapid modelling.

GIS is ready-made for distribution to non-technical stakeholders, as cartography is usually at least part of a GIS professional's training. Most people see or use maps on a daily basis whether they know it or not, and being able to visually represent something that they can look over and digest easily is crucial to gain buy-in for what the analysis shows to be the next step.

The GIS package is very hepful to take efficient and proficient décision for management team. It's provide a non technical team an overview of specific activitivy, But the key of best exploitation of the GIS package is the accuracy and confiance of data collected

Moreover, make sure your data, say, your maps, are clear and concise. If you show a color-scale explain what is that and why you are utilizing that color-scale. Whenever displaying a map, make sure the map is the only thing in your slide. Maps should be self-explanatory and as large as possible for your audience to look at and always add contexts, e.g., what part of the world you are looking at etc.. Make sure you highlight the obvious things, e.g., roads, forests, etc... this will go big ways as you will make sure your listeners understand the basics and focus on what you are conveying.

Simple, focused maps are the way to go. I had to do a presentation to a client and found that decluttering the map but retaining familiar landmarks helps to orient the audience so they can follow without distractions.

As I mentioned earlier, when displaying a map, make the map as large as possible and there should not be text with the map. Note: this does not mean that there should not be text in the map, there absolutely must be some way of text in the map, but not bullet points next to the map for discussion in the same slide.

Agree story telling is a great way of engaging with the stakeholders who might not be well versed with the technical jargon of GIS. It helps in setting the narrative and articulate the problem statement. I have seen a new breed of GIS software excel in this space. One of the ones that comes as the leader is Esri Story Maps. It's a powerful tool which helps to harness the power of GIS maps to tell a story to non-GIS audience.

Colors! Make sure you tailor your colors and do not utilize colors just because you like them. Spend some time researching the phycology behind colors and how to utilize color wheels.