Insights from Data 
Visualization 
STEPHEN LETT 
19 NOVEMBER 2014
Introduction 
 Procter and Gamble 
Global Business Services, 
Global Service Manager 
 15 Years Career 
 3 Years – Planning and 
Manufacturing Business 
Intelligence Service 
Manager.
Data Visualization Discussion Points 
What is it? 
Brief overview of what data 
visualization is and why it is 
important. 
What to Know First? 
Questions to consider when 
deciding how to best leverage 
Data Visualization. 
Visualization Design 
Few golden tips to remember to 
make your visualization stand 
out.
Quick Survey 
When was the first line chart and bar 
graph produced? 
1639 1786 1801 1920 
William Playfair, 
Scottish Engineer 
1759-1823
Data Visualization Transformation 
Reporting 
Visualizing 
Business Intelligence
Data 
Visualization 
WHAT IS IT?
What is Data Visualization? 
 Simple Definition: Visual 
Representation of 
Information 
 A means of communicating 
information clearly and 
effectively through graphical 
displays
Edward Tuft, 1983 
 At their best, graphics are instruments for reasoning about quantitative 
information. 
 Often the most effective way to describe, explore, and summarize a 
set of numbers - even a very large set - is to look at pictures of those 
numbers. 
 Well-designed data graphics are usually the simplest and at the same 
time the most powerful.
Why is Data Visualization Important in 
Business?
Why is Data Visualization Important in 
Business? 
 VUCA World 
 Data is the consistent tool that simplifies the VUCA into where we need to 
focus. 
 Translates into COST SAVINGS 
 Getting to the right answers faster is the only differentiator in competitive 
markets. 
 Fosters PRODUCTIVITY and COLLABORATION 
 Good graphical representations of data communicates complex ideas with 
clarity, precision, and efficiency. 
 Getting teams on the same page faster, and individual contributors on a 
head start for where to focus.
Data 
Visualization 
WHAT TO 
KNOW FIRST?
3 Factors to Consider: 
1.Who’s the “Who”? 
2.What’s the “What!”? 
3.How to Motivate towards 
ACTION?
Who’s the Who? 
 Know Their Background: 
 Experts in the Field/Subject? 
 Analysts – using the data for projections / transformations? 
 Management – strategic directions? 
 Define Consumerization of Data 
 Instructor Driven 
 Self-Discovery 
 Set the Right Expectations 
 Basic Overview 
 Category Glance 
 Deep Discovery in 1 Vector
Communication vs Analysis 
Visualization for 
Communication 
Visualization for Analysis 
Audience General Public 
Senior Leaders 
Analysts 
Intent Summary & Conclusions 
Explain the Situation 
Explorations and Observations 
Data Consumption Immediate Understanding Required 
Complexity SIMPLE Situational Based 
Time to Generate Fairly Quick Real-Time**
What’s the Message? 
Background / General Knowledge? 
Summary to Support a Decision? 
Deep Analysis to Drive a New Activity? 
Communicating new insights?
Plan 
Accordingly! 
Good Rule of Thumb: 
Work on Audience and Message 
understanding and intent 
BEFORE building any visualizations!
Motivating Towards ACTION 
Based on the AUDIENCE and the MESSAGE  Pick the visualization that will lean towards ACTION! 
- If you can communicate the message clearly and efficiently in a simple sentence, DO IT; 
- If Data Tables are required, use them – but don’t lean on visual perception alone. Manage the message!
Data 
Visualization 
VISUALIZATION 
DESIGN TIPS
Key Steps in Designing your Visualization 
Data Preparation 
Clean Data is a MUST: 
- Eliminate “Noise” (e.g. 
nulls, missing values) 
- Clarify data (full set, 
representative sample, 
etc) 
Normalize and Transform 
Upfront 
- Aggregate 
- Filter 
- Primary / Secondary Keys 
Choose Your Graph 
• Amount of Data 
• Type of Data 
• Data Relationships 
• Conclusion for 
Audience 
Good Design Principles 
1. Avoid “Chartjunk” 
2. Use Colors Wisely 
3. No Misleading Scales 
4. Dual Axis Charts are 
for Experts
Good Design Principle 1 – Chartjunk 
What is It? 
 Visual Content that: 
 Adds little / no value 
 Serves little / no purpose 
 Distracts from real data 
 Examples 
 Shadows / Color Effects
Good Design Principle #2 - Colors 
If the point is: Consistent performance at 40%+, which chart uses color most effectively ? 
• Use the same color, except when color differences make a difference 
• Use a single, neutral background color (if needed at all)
Good Design Principle #3 - Scaling 
How are we doing with our budget forecast vs actuals over last 6 months? 
Notice the “Y-Axis”? Always NOTE if an axis doesn’t start with 0
Good Design Principle #4 – Dual Axes
Summary 
Data Visualization is: 
Communicating clearly and 
effectively through graphics. 
Know Your Plan 
1. Who’s the Who? 
2. What’s the “What!”? 
3. Motivate to ACT! 
Golden Design Tips 
1. Avoid Chartjunk 
2. Use Colors Wisely 
3. Beware of Scaling 
4. Dual Axes Needed?
Foundational Principles 
 If the message is simple, keep it simple. 
 If the message is complex, make it look simple. 
Always tell the truth – don’t use graphs to distort the 
data.
Questions?
Backup Slides
William Playfair Graphs 
William Playfair, 
Scottish Engineer 
28 
1759-1823
Q3. Is visualization the best way to share the data, show the findings, and/or 
reveal the insight? 
Does it provide insight or understanding that was not obtainable with the original representation (text, table, etc)? 
Tables Graphs 
Data are arranged in columns and rows Data are displayed in relation to one or more 
29 
axes along which run scales that assign meaning 
to the values 
work best when the display will be used 
to look up individual values or the 
quantitative values must be precise. 
work best when the message resides in the shape 
of the data (that is, in patterns, trends, and 
outliers).
Insights From Data Visualization - Stephen Lett (Procter & Gamble)

Insights From Data Visualization - Stephen Lett (Procter & Gamble)

  • 1.
    Insights from Data Visualization STEPHEN LETT 19 NOVEMBER 2014
  • 2.
    Introduction  Procterand Gamble Global Business Services, Global Service Manager  15 Years Career  3 Years – Planning and Manufacturing Business Intelligence Service Manager.
  • 3.
    Data Visualization DiscussionPoints What is it? Brief overview of what data visualization is and why it is important. What to Know First? Questions to consider when deciding how to best leverage Data Visualization. Visualization Design Few golden tips to remember to make your visualization stand out.
  • 4.
    Quick Survey Whenwas the first line chart and bar graph produced? 1639 1786 1801 1920 William Playfair, Scottish Engineer 1759-1823
  • 5.
    Data Visualization Transformation Reporting Visualizing Business Intelligence
  • 6.
  • 7.
    What is DataVisualization?  Simple Definition: Visual Representation of Information  A means of communicating information clearly and effectively through graphical displays
  • 8.
    Edward Tuft, 1983  At their best, graphics are instruments for reasoning about quantitative information.  Often the most effective way to describe, explore, and summarize a set of numbers - even a very large set - is to look at pictures of those numbers.  Well-designed data graphics are usually the simplest and at the same time the most powerful.
  • 9.
    Why is DataVisualization Important in Business?
  • 10.
    Why is DataVisualization Important in Business?  VUCA World  Data is the consistent tool that simplifies the VUCA into where we need to focus.  Translates into COST SAVINGS  Getting to the right answers faster is the only differentiator in competitive markets.  Fosters PRODUCTIVITY and COLLABORATION  Good graphical representations of data communicates complex ideas with clarity, precision, and efficiency.  Getting teams on the same page faster, and individual contributors on a head start for where to focus.
  • 11.
  • 12.
    3 Factors toConsider: 1.Who’s the “Who”? 2.What’s the “What!”? 3.How to Motivate towards ACTION?
  • 13.
    Who’s the Who?  Know Their Background:  Experts in the Field/Subject?  Analysts – using the data for projections / transformations?  Management – strategic directions?  Define Consumerization of Data  Instructor Driven  Self-Discovery  Set the Right Expectations  Basic Overview  Category Glance  Deep Discovery in 1 Vector
  • 14.
    Communication vs Analysis Visualization for Communication Visualization for Analysis Audience General Public Senior Leaders Analysts Intent Summary & Conclusions Explain the Situation Explorations and Observations Data Consumption Immediate Understanding Required Complexity SIMPLE Situational Based Time to Generate Fairly Quick Real-Time**
  • 15.
    What’s the Message? Background / General Knowledge? Summary to Support a Decision? Deep Analysis to Drive a New Activity? Communicating new insights?
  • 16.
    Plan Accordingly! GoodRule of Thumb: Work on Audience and Message understanding and intent BEFORE building any visualizations!
  • 17.
    Motivating Towards ACTION Based on the AUDIENCE and the MESSAGE  Pick the visualization that will lean towards ACTION! - If you can communicate the message clearly and efficiently in a simple sentence, DO IT; - If Data Tables are required, use them – but don’t lean on visual perception alone. Manage the message!
  • 18.
  • 19.
    Key Steps inDesigning your Visualization Data Preparation Clean Data is a MUST: - Eliminate “Noise” (e.g. nulls, missing values) - Clarify data (full set, representative sample, etc) Normalize and Transform Upfront - Aggregate - Filter - Primary / Secondary Keys Choose Your Graph • Amount of Data • Type of Data • Data Relationships • Conclusion for Audience Good Design Principles 1. Avoid “Chartjunk” 2. Use Colors Wisely 3. No Misleading Scales 4. Dual Axis Charts are for Experts
  • 20.
    Good Design Principle1 – Chartjunk What is It?  Visual Content that:  Adds little / no value  Serves little / no purpose  Distracts from real data  Examples  Shadows / Color Effects
  • 21.
    Good Design Principle#2 - Colors If the point is: Consistent performance at 40%+, which chart uses color most effectively ? • Use the same color, except when color differences make a difference • Use a single, neutral background color (if needed at all)
  • 22.
    Good Design Principle#3 - Scaling How are we doing with our budget forecast vs actuals over last 6 months? Notice the “Y-Axis”? Always NOTE if an axis doesn’t start with 0
  • 23.
    Good Design Principle#4 – Dual Axes
  • 24.
    Summary Data Visualizationis: Communicating clearly and effectively through graphics. Know Your Plan 1. Who’s the Who? 2. What’s the “What!”? 3. Motivate to ACT! Golden Design Tips 1. Avoid Chartjunk 2. Use Colors Wisely 3. Beware of Scaling 4. Dual Axes Needed?
  • 25.
    Foundational Principles If the message is simple, keep it simple.  If the message is complex, make it look simple. Always tell the truth – don’t use graphs to distort the data.
  • 26.
  • 27.
  • 28.
    William Playfair Graphs William Playfair, Scottish Engineer 28 1759-1823
  • 29.
    Q3. Is visualizationthe best way to share the data, show the findings, and/or reveal the insight? Does it provide insight or understanding that was not obtainable with the original representation (text, table, etc)? Tables Graphs Data are arranged in columns and rows Data are displayed in relation to one or more 29 axes along which run scales that assign meaning to the values work best when the display will be used to look up individual values or the quantitative values must be precise. work best when the message resides in the shape of the data (that is, in patterns, trends, and outliers).

Editor's Notes

  • #5 William Playfair (1759-1823) developed or improved upon nearly all of the fundamental graphical designs, seeking to replace conventional tables of numbers with systematic visual representations. He invented the bar chart, line graph, and pie chart.
  • #6 Reporting  Visualization  Business Intelligence Reporting: Facts and Figures – precise values Visualization: remove the rows/columns – more intuitive / perceptive Business Intelligence: Combining multiple performance measures to understand results and determine focus.
  • #9 Edward Tufte is a leading authority on visual design. This course draws heavily on his ideas, and his followers such as Stephen Few. The Visual Display of Quantitative Information, Edward R. Tufte, Graphics Press: Cheshire, CT 1983, Introduction
  • #15 ** Will require access to the data source.
  • #24 Only useful for comparing data with different units of measure May be more effectively replaced by 2 charts
  • #29 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Playfair William Playfair (1759-1823) developed or improved upon nearly all of the fundamental graphical designs, seeking to replace conventional tables of numbers with systematic visual representations. He invented the bar chart, line graph, and pie chart.