How do you incorporate feedback and lessons learned from your program schedule dashboard and reports?

1 Define your dashboard and report objectives

Before you start creating your dashboard and reports, you need to define what you want to achieve with them. What are the key questions you want to answer? What are the metrics and indicators you want to track? What are the expectations and needs of your audience? How often and in what format do you want to share your dashboard and reports? By clarifying your objectives, you can design your dashboard and reports to align with your program goals and stakeholder requirements.

2 Choose your dashboard and report tools

There are many tools and software available for creating program schedule dashboard and reports. Some of the popular ones include Microsoft Project, Excel, PowerPoint, Tableau, and Smartsheet. Depending on your budget, preferences, and capabilities, you can choose the tool that suits your needs and integrates well with your program data sources. You can also use a combination of tools to create different types of dashboard and reports, such as graphical, numerical, or narrative.

3 Design your dashboard and report layout

Once you have chosen your tool, you need to design your dashboard and report layout. It should be clear, concise, and consistent, highlighting the most important information and avoiding clutter and confusion. Your layout should include a title and subtitle that describe the purpose and scope of your dashboard and report, as well as a summary or overview that provides a quick snapshot of your program status and key messages. Additionally, you should include a timeline or Gantt chart that shows your program milestones, deliverables, and dependencies, as well as a dashboard or report section that displays your program metrics and indicators. Furthermore, a legend or explanation should define your terms, symbols, and colors, and a footer or header should include your logo, date, and page number.

4 Update and review your dashboard and report data

Your dashboard and report data should be accurate, relevant, and timely. You need to update and review your data regularly to reflect the current state of your program and identify any changes or issues. You can use automation, integration, or data validation features to streamline your data collection and processing. You can also use filters, sorting, or grouping functions to organize and analyze your data. You should also check your data for errors, inconsistencies, or outliers and correct them as needed.

5 Share and present your dashboard and report findings

Your dashboard and report findings should be clear, concise, and compelling. You need to share and present them to your stakeholders in a way that meets their expectations and needs. You can use different formats and channels to share and present your dashboard and report findings, such as email, web, or print. You can also use different styles and techniques to communicate your findings, such as storytelling, visualization, or narration. You should also tailor your message and tone to your audience and purpose, such as informative, persuasive, or motivational.

6 Incorporate feedback and lessons learned from your dashboard and report results

Your dashboard and report results should be actionable, useful, and meaningful. You need to incorporate feedback and lessons learned from them to improve your program management and outcomes. You can solicit feedback and lessons learned from your stakeholders, such as sponsors, clients, team members, or partners. You can also use surveys, interviews, or focus groups to collect and analyze their feedback and lessons learned. You should also document and share your feedback and lessons learned with your program team and organization and use them to inform your future decisions and actions.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?