Glossary
Dashboard: one page, one decision
A dashboard brings together the indicators that drive a decision, on a single page. Its quality is judged by how long it takes to know what to do: a few seconds. Its design starts from the decision to take, never from the data available.
A page that makes you decide
A dashboard gathers a small number of indicators, ranked by decision importance, on a single surface. It states its refresh date and the source of every figure. Its design starts from a question, not from available data: which decision must this page enable, and which figures are strictly necessary to take it.
- A single surface, a few ranked indicators
- Refresh date and source appear on the page
- Design starts from the decision to take, not from available data
How a useful page is built
The Business Intelligence and Steering programme has candidates produce a complete dashboard, from query to layout. The Advanced Excel course installs the same move with a spreadsheet: pivot tables, conditional formatting and automatic refresh from an external source.
- 01
1 — The target decision
You first write the decision the page must enable: it drives every other design choice.
- 02
2 — The strictly necessary indicators
Three to five measures suffice. Each further addition dilutes attention and lengthens the read.
- 03
3 — Visual hierarchy
The figure that triggers action takes the most readable spot; context surrounds it.
- 04
4 — Traceability
Source, refresh date and calculation definition stay reachable from the page.
Programmes that have you produce one
2 catalogue programmes put “Dashboard” to work: 124 credits and 1240 taught hours in total. The official rule holds throughout — one credit stands for 25 hours of work, 10 of them taught. Every line below is recomputed from the programme page: level, duration, credits, taught volume and fees in Guinean francs appear exactly as filed in the official catalogue.
| Programme | Level | Duration | Volume | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Intelligence and Steering | Bachelor's degree | 2 years | 120 credits · 1200 taught hours | 5 000 000 GNF per year |
| Advanced Excel | Short course | 2 months | 4 credits · 40 taught hours | 900 000 GNF in total |
Points that come up often
How many indicators on one page?
Three to five for a steering page. Beyond that, reading lengthens and the decision dilutes.
Which tool do I need to be fluent in?
A spreadsheet is enough to start, and the Business Intelligence programme then installs query and visualisation tools.
How often should it refresh?
At the frequency of the decision it serves: weekly for day-to-day steering, daily for a fast-moving activity.
Explore next
- Return on investmentReturn on investment: calculation, scope of the gain, measurement horizon and use in trade-offs, in IHETC management and marketing programmes.
- HSEHSE: scope, roles, documentary obligations and 140 modules in the IHETC catalogue, with the matching professional qualifications.
- Personal protective equipmentPersonal protective equipment: selection from risk assessment, periodic checks, training in use and traceability, in IHETC programmes.
- Risk assessmentRisk assessment: identification, severity and likelihood rating, hierarchy of measures and the risk register, in IHETC industrial programmes.
- Work permitWork permits on industrial sites: types, issuing conditions, validity period and closure, in IHETC safety programmes.
- Near missNear miss: definition, reporting, root cause analysis and effect on the prevention plan, in IHETC safety and management programmes.