| Time is too valuable to waste. Indeed, to | | | | of an executive is identifying key trends |
| top level executives time is money, and they | | | | related to the company and the market. The |
| cannot afford to waste their time. This | | | | easiest way to realize trends exist is by |
| presents an interesting dilemma to these | | | | observing graphical representations of the |
| chief executives, since they are supposed to | | | | data. Thus an executive is able to take a |
| understand the condition and status of the | | | | quick look at his dashboard and easily |
| business at all times. But how is this | | | | identify the trends in market conditions. |
| possible when there is so much information to | | | | Having spent relatively little time |
| tackle and so little to time? The answer is | | | | identifying the trends in the data, the |
| quite simple actually; chief executives need | | | | executive then has more time to either |
| to take advantage of an executive information | | | | address or exploit the trends he has |
| system. | | | | discovered. |
| | | | |
| An executive information system allows the | | | | It is easy for an executive to see the value |
| executive the ability to peruse the most | | | | in charting software such as an executive |
| important and pertinent information the | | | | dashboard as it saves the executive a lot of |
| company has available. Rather than focusing | | | | time and assists him in performing his job |
| on the breadth and depth of the information, | | | | with more efficiency. To be competitive on |
| an executive information system is centered | | | | the executive level, you must have a quality |
| around value. Information that does not | | | | executive information system in place. If |
| provide intrinsic value is of no use to the | | | | you lack such a tool, you will likely fall |
| time crunched executive. Thankfully there | | | | behind other leading executives and quickly |
| are products such as dashboards that serve as | | | | fall out of favor with the boss. |
| powerful and valuable executive information | | | | |
| systems. | | | | Dashboards provide so much value to the |
| | | | decision making process at the executive |
| A dashboard is a well developed interface for | | | | level that you can literally not afford to |
| charting software . Dashboards serve as a | | | | work without one. If you want to keep pace |
| sort of database that offers a visual | | | | with your colleagues then you need to do your |
| representation of the vital data of the | | | | homework on executive information systems and |
| company. In this sense a dashboard acts as | | | | find the one that fits your needs the best. |
| advanced charting software because it is able | | | | I would recommend looking for a dashboard |
| to accept a range of inputs which are | | | | solution that offers embedded charting |
| transferred to visual objects, better known | | | | software and dashboard excel compatibility. |
| as charts, graphs, and maps. | | | | This will allow you the flexibility of |
| | | | inputting all your vital information from |
| So how does this type of executive | | | | your excel spreadsheets, which are then |
| information system provide value to an | | | | transferred into highly interpretable charts, |
| executive? One of the key responsibilities | | | | graphs, and maps. |