Enhancing organizational efficiency with data-driven dashboards

: a study in dashboard development and implementation

Abstract

In today's data-driven landscape, businesses rely heavily on extracting key information from datasets to gain a competitive advantage. This master thesis generally aims to improve the productivity and usefulness of Excel-based dashboards, particularly for the telecoms corporation by integrating data from NOS, more specifically its WOO and WTF divisions. The goal of this thesis was to optimize data processing and visualization through the redesign of existing dashboards while simultaneously researching new techniques to improve user experience and inspire engagement with data-driven insights. Utilizing an Action-Research method, the study aimed to enhance Excel's capabilities by implementing new techniques for improved data integration and presentation. By analyzing the data system's structure and refining data preparation processes, the research aims to enhance the accuracy and reliability of the dashboards. Furthermore, it emphasizes the need for user participation in dashboard design to ensure alignment with chiefs’ requirements and preferences. Key findings highlight the interdependence between data preparation and dashboard design, emphasizing the need for a cohesive dataset structure to support meaningful insights. The use of color-coded visuals and intuitive graphics improve data interpretation, facilitating informed decision-making. Additionally, the research explores opportunities for future automation to further improve dashboard efficiency and accuracy. Overall, this study contributes to the evolving field of Business Intelligence by demonstrating practical ways for optimizing Excel-based dashboards intelecommunications companies. It promotes the continuous process of dashboard development, as well as the importance of ongoing evaluation and refinement to maintain relevance and effectiveness in a dynamic business environment.

Date of Award	12 Jul 2024
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Maria Alice Moreira Trindade (Supervisor)