Define the decisions
Start by listing what leadership needs to know and what actions each metric could trigger. This prevents the dashboard from becoming a visual version of the spreadsheet.
Create KPI levels
Separate executive health metrics from drivers and diagnostic detail. The first screen should answer whether the business is healthy before explaining why.
Design exceptions
Good dashboards tell people where to look. Surface metrics outside target ranges, meaningful changes, and items that require intervention.
Prototype before automating
Validate the hierarchy and visual system using representative data before investing time in automation or data pipelines.