Effectively Communicating

DataChapter 8

Overview

Learn how to effectively display data

Understand the importance of data quality,

sources of data, and data appropriateness

Know commonly used methods of

displaying data as well as the advantages

and disadvantages of each tool.

Displaying Data

Tables are the most common way to

visually describe data.

Scattergrams are used to show a pattern or

relationship between two variables.

Line graphs are useful for showing

patterns over time.

Displaying Data Cont’d.

Pie charts show the contribution of values to a whole and are useful when the data is represented in percentages.

A three-dimensional exploded pie chart is useful when there are several revenue categories that are small.

Bar and column charts are similar to pie charts in that they are not very useful for displaying negative numbers but it is possible with bar charts.

Trend Analysis

Trend analysis is a table that shows the change in a variable over time and works best for revenues and expenditures that are stable.

Nollenberger’s four steps to constructing a trend analysis

The main drawback to trend analysis is that it cannot predict how major events or the economy will affect revenue or expenditure streams.

Rules for Constructing Power Point

Presentations Determine the substantive contents of the

presentation

Determine your design template

Determine the format of your text and

tables

Decide if you want your presentation to be

interactive and linked to a web cite or

another program.

Conclusion

It is important that the title of the figures

and labels used to describe the data are

effective, appropriate, and timely.

The more time you spend creating charts

and learning new programs, the more

proficient you will become.

Time and clarity is the essence to success.