Executive Dashboard Executive Dashboard SystemsSystems

Secure CITISecure CITI

Adam ZagoreckiAdam Zagorecki

April 30, 2004April 30, 2004

OverviewOverview

Executive dashboard – overviewExecutive dashboard – overview Executive dashboards in practiceExecutive dashboards in practice Designing ED: objectives, limitations Designing ED: objectives, limitations

and compromises and compromises Technical considerationsTechnical considerations ED for emergency managementED for emergency management ConclusionsConclusions

Problem StatementProblem Statement

Investigation of the application of the Investigation of the application of the concept of executive dashboards in concept of executive dashboards in context of emergency management. context of emergency management.

Critical literature review Critical literature review Provide a set of guidelines for Provide a set of guidelines for

application of the ED for emergency application of the ED for emergency managementmanagement

Use of automated methods for Use of automated methods for performance monitoring performance monitoring

Dashboard SystemsDashboard Systems Started around 1985, they are currently Started around 1985, they are currently

considered as a hot topic in business considered as a hot topic in business intelligence (new name for decision-support intelligence (new name for decision-support systems). systems).

Started as a business application – a display Started as a business application – a display on the executive desk that shows how the on the executive desk that shows how the business is performing. It was not an business is performing. It was not an optimal solution.optimal solution.

They become managerial dashboards, They become managerial dashboards, similar concept, which serves multiple similar concept, which serves multiple decision makers. Example: Southwest decision makers. Example: Southwest Airlines. Airlines.

Goals of Executive Goals of Executive DashboardDashboard

There are 3 goals that the ED should There are 3 goals that the ED should address:address: ““Answer fundamental questions about Answer fundamental questions about

the system or organizational unit” – e.g. the system or organizational unit” – e.g. status of resources, etc. Key status of resources, etc. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).Performance Indicators (KPIs).

Alert managers to problems. Alert managers to problems. Help to make decisions that impact the Help to make decisions that impact the

complex systems.complex systems.

Key Performance Key Performance IndicatorsIndicators

Idea: usually Idea: usually one screenone screen summary that summary that shows Key Performance Indicators.shows Key Performance Indicators.

KPIs are benchmarks strictly tied to the KPIs are benchmarks strictly tied to the nature of the system, always user specific. nature of the system, always user specific.

KPIs are usually simple measures that are KPIs are usually simple measures that are delivered directly from a database.delivered directly from a database.

Selection of KPIs is the basis of success or Selection of KPIs is the basis of success or failure of the ED. failure of the ED.

GOAL: to reduce information load and focus GOAL: to reduce information load and focus attention on the emerging problems.attention on the emerging problems.

Design: VisualizationDesign: Visualization

Experience shows that low end Experience shows that low end visualizations (charts, maps, histograms) visualizations (charts, maps, histograms) are more adequate than more advanced are more adequate than more advanced displays.displays.

The main purpose is to deliver information The main purpose is to deliver information in a quick and easy to comprehend manner.in a quick and easy to comprehend manner.

The use of web browsers is highly The use of web browsers is highly recommended, because users are familiar recommended, because users are familiar with them and they lower implementation with them and they lower implementation costs. costs.

Technology usedTechnology used

The design assumes existence of a The design assumes existence of a central data warehouse, therefore a central data warehouse, therefore a problem with multiple sources is problem with multiple sources is assumed to be non-existent. assumed to be non-existent.

All necessary All necessary number crunching number crunching is is assumed to be done by data assumed to be done by data warehouse software.warehouse software.

Alert levels are simple thresholds that Alert levels are simple thresholds that are defined by user (customizable) are defined by user (customizable)

Typical Design Typical Design (business)(business)

Organization (business)

Organization (business)

Data Warehouse

Executive

Dashboard

KPIs

Executive Dashboards and Executive Dashboards and Public ManagementPublic Management

Multi-organizational Multi-organizational effort effort

Executive dashboards were developed for Executive dashboards were developed for profit oriented organizations with clearly profit oriented organizations with clearly defined objectives. defined objectives.

The executive dashboard is an example of The executive dashboard is an example of a STS, therefore most problems identified a STS, therefore most problems identified for STS are true for ED, in particular:for STS are true for ED, in particular: getting all major actors involved in the getting all major actors involved in the

enterprise, resolution of conflicts among enterprise, resolution of conflicts among actors’ expectations actors’ expectations

lack of interest or resistance from some of lack of interest or resistance from some of the actorsthe actors

who will pay?who will pay?

Data SourcesData Sources

From technical perspective From technical perspective important difficulties arise from the important difficulties arise from the lack of a central data warehouse:lack of a central data warehouse: need for defining data exchange need for defining data exchange

protocols between different protocols between different organizationsorganizations

implementation of secure implementation of secure communication between multiple communication between multiple intranets intranets

Design suggestionsDesign suggestions

Identify Key Performance Indicators should Identify Key Performance Indicators should be the first step in the design processbe the first step in the design process KPIs should be identified by practicing KPIs should be identified by practicing

emergency managers who will be users of the emergency managers who will be users of the systemsystem

What information can be available to the What information can be available to the system?system?

System should be used on daily basis by System should be used on daily basis by emergency managers and all actors emergency managers and all actors involved in crisis management.involved in crisis management.

Design suggestionsDesign suggestions

Data quality in the system should be Data quality in the system should be positively correlated with the positively correlated with the automatization (level of intelligence) automatization (level of intelligence) of the system. of the system.

Data quality should determine the Data quality should determine the degree of technical complexity of the degree of technical complexity of the system.system.

ConclusionsConclusions

Executive dashboards were originally Executive dashboards were originally developed for business organizations, developed for business organizations, and implementation is still not mature.and implementation is still not mature.

Executive dashboards vs. managerial Executive dashboards vs. managerial dashboards.dashboards.

Executive dashboard is never a Executive dashboard is never a “product” – requires customization for “product” – requires customization for every customer.every customer.

KPIs are based on experts’ knowledge.KPIs are based on experts’ knowledge.

Emergency managementEmergency management

Key difference between business Key difference between business settings and public management is settings and public management is the number of different organizations the number of different organizations involved in using ED:involved in using ED: no single data warehouse (technical no single data warehouse (technical

problems, costs)problems, costs) often contradictory objectives (social often contradictory objectives (social

difficulties)difficulties) limitations on free communication limitations on free communication

(technical, legal issues)(technical, legal issues)

Thank youThank you