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6
Data Visualization in Business
Intelligence
Jack G. Zheng
Introduction
Business Intelligence (BI) is a set of methods, processes, architectures,
applications, and technologies that gather and transform raw data into
meaningful and useful information used to enable more effective strategic,
tactical, and operational insights and decision-making to drive business
performance (Evelson and Nicolson, 2008). A general BI process covers a
number of sub-processes or phases including data gathering, data cleanse,
data storage, data analysis, data presentation and delivery (Zheng, Zhang,
and Li, 2014). In the phase of data presentation, query or analysis results are
presented and delivered in various human comprehendible formats (such as
tables and charts) which directly supports sense-making and decision-
making. Data presentation also includes interactive queries and data
explorations that help users find useful information. Correspondingly in the
technology stack, BI systems include various data visualization and
interaction forms and techniques through reports (static and interactive
reports), digital dashboards, and more complex analytical visual tools
(Chiang, 2011).
Data visualization has been rising rapidly for the past a few years in the BI
and analytics industry, as part of the modern BI movement which
emphasizes on self-service (Parenteau et al., 2016). It is also a big part of
data science which has gained wide popularity recently. There have a been a
plethora of tools and systems that feature their data visualization solutions.
As an interdisciplinary field, data visualization brings together psychology,
technology, art, and decision science to deliver the last mile of the complete
BI and analytics capability to users. Compared to other types and
applications of visualization, business data visualization, particularly
concerns about the visualization of business data, is mainly for the purpose
of communication, information seeking, analysis, and decision support.
One of the key questions in business data visualization is how, and in what
form, data visualization contributes to the overall business intelligence
6 Data Visualization in Business Intelligence
process and system. This chapter provides a comprehensive high-level view
of different types of data visualizations that can be used in the business
environment, and to provide a guidance of technology and system selection.
The chapter starts with defining business data visualization and comparing it
to other common types of visualizations and their applications, then provides
a comprehensive review and analysis of common tools and applications of
business data visualizations used in business intelligence, and concludes
with a brief overview of recent trends and prospects.
Background
Embedded Visuals
Embedded visuals are visual effects embedded in another form of
presentation. They are not independently presented but always used on top
of other presentation forms. Embedded visuals include two major forms:
conditional formatting and inline mini charts (or Sparkline).
Conditional formatting refers to the direct formatting or styling of text,
numbers, shapes, and other contents utilizing visual variables like color, size,
etc. (Bertin, 2010). Conditional formatting does not significantly change the
layout and flow of contents, thus it is less intrusive to the content. Instead, it
provides a decorative effect that reveals more meaning or highlights selected
content from the data or text.
6 Data Visualization in Business Intelligence
A Sparkline is a small minimized chart embedded in the context of text
paragraphs, tables, images, or other type of information. It presents the
general data pattern (variation, trends, differentiations, etc.) in a simple and
highly condensed way (Tufte, 2006). Interpretive and supporting information
like title, label, data point, legend, are omitted from the chart. A miniature
line chart (hence called Sparkline) is most commonly used, but it can be of
other chart types, including bar charts, bullet graphs, etc.
Purpose
Comparison Comparing and sorting data Bar/column chart, line chart,
points radar chart
Composition Showing part-to-whole Stacked column/area chart, pie
comparisons chart
Distribution Aggregated value (usually Histogram, scatter plot, bubble
count) of data points placed in chart
categories; the category can be
value ranges or time (trend).
Relationship How things (data items) are Scatter plot, bubble chart
related or positioned in a
bigger context.
Profiling * Comprehending things through Radar chart, parallel
visual shapes and patterns. coordinates
* Added by the author to enhance Abela’s version.
Other more specific types of charts are used in different business contexts
for more specific purposes. These charts are based on the more generic chart
types like bar charts and line charts, and add more specific visual elements,
or arrange the elements in a specific way to represent domain-specific
meanings. For example, bullet charts (based on bar charts) are used in
performance measuring; perceptual maps (based on scatter plots) are used in
marketing; waterfall or bridge charts (based on column charts) are used in
driving factor analysis; Gantt charts (based on data tables and bar charts) are
used in project management; funnel charts are used in sales; candlestick
charts are used in stock technical analysis.
Location-Based Visuals
Location as a dimension plays an important role in many areas of business
data analysis and decision-making. Many business activities are associated
with locations. It has been gaining increased attention especially with the
wide adoption of location sensors (like GPS and other location capture
technologies) which generate location data. Location-based visuals,
commonly based on a map, provide a background or a context that is
familiar to the users and make the location-related data more
comprehendible and perceivable. A 2015 yearly survey (Dresner, 2015)
finds
map-based visualization of information as the top priority, and more
than 95 percent of respondents rank it as at least somewhat important.
More than 60 percent report that the functionality for layered
visualizations is “very important” or “critical” for their organization.
6 Data Visualization in Business Intelligence
The location-based visuals involve three basic factors: type of location
data, visual forms, data points representation on the map.
The types of location data are directly associated with a business and its
analysis. One major type of location data is geo locations that come with
real-world maps. Many places and regions are based on geospatial mapping,
such as political regions (country, state, city, etc.), various types of real
estate properties or areas (park, campus, road), or any other arbitrary
locations determined by businesses (postal ZIP area, sales region, service
district). A second type of location data is local contextual locations which
do not directly rely on geo coordinates. These locations are relative locations
within in a confined area, such as inside a park, campus, building, room,
court, bus/subway line, or even as small region such as a shelf, body, etc. For
example, many sports-related analytics analyze the data related to locations
on playing fields; stadium and airlines analyze seating data which relates to
locations; mall, hospitals, universities, and apartments analyze room/facility
usages which are also related to locations. The last type of locations is
associated with more abstract ideas like processes, computer networks,
organization structures, etc. These abstract locations can also be visualized
on an abstract map (or more like an illustration diagram).
The visualization forms for location data is how the background layer of
the map is presented. There are two broad categories: (a) real-world maps
are used as the background layer, then points, paths, and areas are displayed
accurately or closely proximate to the background (Figure 6.1a); (b) a more
abstract map (either geo location or non-geo location), sometimes just an
illustrational diagram, is used as the background layer, and positioning of
objects are based on relative position (e.g. X/Y coordinates) in the map
context. The positions or areas on the map are for illustration purpose only,
and not corresponding to their real-world positions or sizes (Figure 6.1b).
[Insert Figure 6.1a Here]
6 Data Visualization in Business Intelligence
Figure 6.1b shows a type of abstract map called tile grid map (Shaw,
2016). Tile grid maps abstractly use similar-sized tiles to represent geo
regions with irregular sizes. It has several visual advantages in some cases
when location precision is not important:
6 Data Visualization in Business Intelligence
• Eliminate map distortions on some real-world map projections. For
example, avoid the Alaska effect on US maps (Taylor, 2017).
• Provide a more consistent view of places of irregular shape and different
sizes. In some cases, it makes smaller areas more visible.
• Provide a more modern and consistent look and feel.
Dashboards
Standalone visuals are more like applications than visualizations. They
occupy even larger space or even full screens. They also contain multiple
types of content as well as interaction controls. A digital dashboard is a
major type of standalone visual. A dashboard is “a visual display of the most
important information needed to achieve one or more objectives;
consolidated and arranged on a single screen so the information can be
monitored at a glance” (Few, 2004). The term dashboard originally came
from operational status monitoring on machines which provides visual
display for quick reading. Its use has been expanded to visualization of
digital data associated with business performance on screens. A dashboard
(at the front end) is basically an integrated application of data (content),
visual views, and user interface/interaction (UI).
Conclusion
The shifting focus on end users with better and more effective data
presentation and visualization is a global phenomenon. Business data
visualization has an increasing importance in the complete BI process and is
becoming an integral part of any BI system. Various forms of data
visualization, each with their unique features, help BI users and decision
makers at different levels from different perspectives. BI managers and
developers should understand their features, strengths and weakness, and use
them together to create a good mix that satisfies different types of users with
different needs. This chapter provides a comprehensive review of these
visualization forms and tools, which will help BI managers, decision makers,
analysts, and developers better select and utilize them. The perception of
visualization is common across all cultures and business environment, but
the meaning delivered through visualizations may be affected by a number
of factors like color and orientation. Adapting data visualization solutions in
local culture is also important in the global business environment.
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