Where no analysis report has gone before - MyDataDeck™

MyDataDeck™, inspired by Star Trek, was introduced at Microsoft’s LOVE event (Launch of Office: Vista: Exchange) in 2007. It took the stage and wowed the audience with a Supplier Performance simulation of Ferrari’s analysis of brake pad suppliers!

MyDataDeck™ is a powerful report and presentation tool which can be used for Spend Analysis, Supplier Performance and a whole range of other functions where analysis and presentation of raw transaction data is required.

Research has shown that the optimum number of charts for scenario presentation is 16 (4 Main, 12 Supporting), and the MyDataDeck™ presents 16 individually customised charts in a rotating carousel format for maximum presentation impact. Each Chart is easily configured to present key information, customised to suit the business parameters for decision making. It is the next generation dashboard, keeping senior management informed of the latest KPIs.

How is MyDataDeck™ different from the conventional Dashboard and ScoreCard reporting systems?  The answer lies in the purpose for which the Dashboard and ScoreCard reporting system is built.

Dashboard systems are designed much like the dashboard of a car, to summarise a range of signals or data to keep the driver informed of the overall performance of a car.  By pre-determining a specific level of performance as acceptable or not, such as fuel empty gauge or red sector for over-revving the car, the driver is informed as to what are acceptable levels of performance.  Dashboards highlight when management needs to make a decision to change the performance, eg to lift the foot off the acceleration pedal when the speedmeter needle is too close to red.  However, dashboards do not help the driver to make the decision.  They just tell you the need to make a decision.

Similarly, ScoreCard systems reports performances against specific key performance indicators.  The intention is to highlight when performance is within specific acceptable levels.  Again, they tell you the performance is not acceptable and therefore someone needs to make a decision to change things.  ScoreCard systems do not help you to make a specific decision.

In contrast, to appreciate the value that MyDataDeck™ generates, one has to first look at the way management makes its decisions.  Management decisions are typically made in meetings where management is given a range of reports and findings, which lead to and support a specific set of decisions to be made.  For example, if a decision is needed to extend the contract of a supplier, we will need a series of reports to show the business given to that supplier, their performance to-date, comparison with other suppliers who supply similar products or services and maybe a comparison of their prices for the same range of products.  These reports lead the management to either make the same decision which has been proposed or disagree with the reports and therefore make a an alternate decision.

MyDataDeck™ enables users to prepare a specific set of reports which can be presented in management meetings to lead the audience to a specific set of decisions.  Using a storytelling mode, each report is designed to lead the audience to the next analysis to draw the audience to the same conclusions as the presenter.  By providing sophisticated drill-down tools, the audience can use MyDataDeck™ to re-analyse the raw transaction data to explore various scenarios and challenge the assumptions presented.  Once the audience is satisfied with the raw analysis, the drilled-down reports can be saved to support the decisions made. The advantage of utilizing the MyDataDeck™ is that critical relevant data can be taken directly from discrete databases for the most up-to-the-minute reporting and analysis, and presented in almost any graphical format, including correlating relationship variances.

MyDataDeck™ helps management to make decisions in a systematic, repeatable and auditable manner using a sophisticated visualisation tool with drill-down technology to analyse raw transaction data in real-time.

More Trek-inspired modules