What makes reporting effective—and when are dashboards truly useful? In this episode of Measurement Mashup, Dr. Mika Menken, a specialist in data analysis and visualisation, joins the hosts to explore the power and pitfalls of dashboard-driven communication reporting. She explains that while dashboards can provide clarity and speed—especially in fast-moving environments like social media—over-simplification and misuse of thresholds can lead to poor decisions.

Menken stresses the need for clear objectives before selecting tools like Power BI, Tableau, or Excel. The episode walks through dashboard design fundamentals: start with goals, understand your data needs, and involve end users early. A good dashboard, she argues, is not a one-size-fits-all solution but a tailored instrument that empowers users to act, anticipate, and interpret.

Listeners gain practical advice on dashboard setup, tool selection, user training, and how to make data available and actionable—without overwhelming stakeholders. The episode concludes with three strategic tips to approach dashboards the right way: begin with goals, build for specific users, and retain raw data for retrospective insights.