Dashboard on Wal-Mart Stores, Inc

Introduction

Over the last decade, dashboards have been useful as a standard business tool. Companies make use of dashboards to present some information of concern, and they help the managers to monitor the business processes in a way that can help them make informed decisions (Pureshare.com, n.d). A dashboard is simply a visual display that shows the most vital information needed by the user. The information has consolidation and arrangement on a single screen so that its monitoring can take place at a glance. They focus on the most valuable information, and they communicate in a clear and concise way. The information presented on dashboards should have a relation to the area of focus for that dashboard. The paper entails the suggestions for the Wal-Mart dashboard layout by addressing the some given questions in relation to the topic.

Data flow

Data collection

The collection of data will take place via a number of ways. First, it will take place through extraction from the ERP system. The ERP system collects the organization-wide information that is helpful in making the managers have a wider view of the performance of the enterprise. The ERP system can also make it easy for synchronization to take place and also to remove any inconsistencies that might occur. So the collection of the information via the ERP is necessary as it makes it easy leverage multiple sources of information in the enterprise. The ERP system is the system considered as the backbone of the information of the entire company. It provides the consistency, transparency and the visibility of information across the entire organization, also making the sharing of the same information possible.

Another way of information gathering for the dashboard is the manual data entry. The manual entry of data is essential as it makes the information available to the dashboard that would not be possible with the ERP or other systems. The information, for example, that requires human thinking cannot be possible with an automatic system. The manual data entry into the system also makes it possible to include data that is not in the organizational systems or the organizational databases. The integration of the different types of information, both internal and external into the dashboard makes it have a broader view.

Another way to the collection of data for the dashboard is the web monitor software. The software helps to get some vital data in regard to web activities by the users. The web monitor software watches the pattern of the users of the company’s website, and it can collect crucial data that can aid in populating the dashboard with meaningful data. Collection of information through that particular software can lead to the inclusion of information in the database that can be useful to the customers of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Sources of data

The data will come from application databases or the ERP system. The ERP system has the capability of pooling information from the entire organization including all units and departments. So it is apparent that this kind of information source is rich with information that is crucial for the dashboard of the particular company in question. The web servers also can be a good source to get the dashboard information from as they contain a good amount of information about customer activities by the web monitor. The source helps to incorporate external data on the company customers, and this data can be useful in dashboards in drawing graphs. The graphs can present averages or other central tendencies of customer activities and through that some more customers can join the company after seeing the company’s progress.

Another important source of information is the manufacturing PCLs. The PCLs will provide the information for the manual entry process discussed above. The PCLs will provide the information that is not possible with the ERP and the one that is specific to manufacturing and the utilization of resources for the same task. The information from the manufacturing PCLs, when integrated o the dashboards will offer the users information that pertains to the manufacturing line. The users will be able to have a glance on what is happening with the manufacturing process, and if interested they can have an option to drill down to specifics. The collection can also take place from the data marts. Since the data marts contain data specific to some business line, they can have inclusion in the dashboard so as to provide the dashboard with a broader view of the company.

The data collection takes place after every minute so as to give managers, managers and those interested in the company’s results the most current information on the company progress. The duration is that short because the Wal-Mart company is very busy throughout because of the increasing number of customers that they serve. The collection of information also takes place after every minute so as to reduce the efforts in the collection as data is increasing now and then. The duration helps to provide the company with real-time information for decision making. However, that can be disturbing especially when a user is trying to focus on a problem. For that reason, there will be the inclusion of a freeze and unfreeze data button to halt the updates temporarily. The button will produce yellow light to give alerts as well as produce some sound for alerting the user in case they are not watching the screen.

Data visualization

The dashboard presents the information on a single view via the key performance indicators with both the current synthesis as well as the key metrics’ details (Pureshare.com, n.d). The metrics give the viewer an opportunity to drill down into details upon their wish. There will be the usage of tabs to display different segments of information (Oracle.com, n.d). The drill down or filtering will take place via the usage of links. The packages, which are the second level of tabs, will contain the links to details of those specific packages and reports.

The trending identification will take place via the reports of various types, for instance, bar charts. The information that is most important for any individual is the current information, and the rest of information will depend on the interest of the individual. That is the reason for applying the trending downward. The baseline values for the dashboard will be the central values collected at specific times over a number of days, for example, one week. The values will be the average studied over a period of one week.

The display of information in terms of color coding will be in application in the right way so as to make the user clearly comprehend the information communicated. The good values will use the green color; the bad values will use the red color because this is the color that draws attention to the area needing quick intervention. The green colors normally tell the users that things are ok even without viewing the values because there is that notion that green color shows good things. Plain colors will be useful with values that are neutral. That is because the neutral values do not require much attention, and it will be the choice of the users to decide whether they give attention to them or not. Flashing will also use the same color as the color coding.

The dashboard is useful to the company managers and other stakeholders as it provides them with information on performance as well as KPIs. The company executives and the public can also use it to check the company’s progress.

Conclusion

Wal-Mart is a well-doing company in the world in terms of sales and the leading employers in the world. The dashboard is quite indispensable for this particular company as it will help to convey information of greatest importance to the company. That will make the company identify the areas they are doing well and the areas that require attention. However, the bet design principles and techniques should be applicable so as to achieve the desired dashboard, fully functioning as needed. The visual display should be in a way that does not distract the attention of the users. The specific color coding and flashing should be in the application so as to make differences between the different values in the dashboard (Tableau Software Inc, 2011).

References

Few, S. (2006). Information dashboard design.

Oracle.com (n.d). Create a dashboard with multiple tabs. 

Pureshare.com (n.d). Metrics dashboard design: Designing effective metrics management 

Sherry Roberts is the author of this paper. A senior editor at MeldaResearch.Com in nursing writing services. If you need a similar paper you can place your order from best custom term papers.