Visualization Tools

When it comes to numerical matters to support the management policy, a number of programs are useful as management tools. Here I will discuss Excel, SPSS, Tableau and infographics as management tools. Excel and SPSS are primarily analysis tools and Tableau and infographics are visualization tools. Making charts in Excel is also a visualization tool.

Excel

Excel is a relatively inexpensive program that comes with Office and therefore everyone has it if they have Office. Check when buying a laptop if it comes with Office. In Excel I can do the following:

• Create tabels

• Create charts

• Create pivot tables

• Filter

• Use formulas

• Count

• Make financial plans

• Make descision trees or other diagrams

Excel is easy to combine with Word or PowerPoint for a report or presentation.

Disadvantage Excel

One disadvantage of Excel is that if I want to use complex formulas to calculate something, I need to understand those formulas in order to apply them. And this is not really necessary in SPSS. Another tool I discuss further down. With SPSS I only need to know where to enter which number and be able to explain the results.

SPSS

I don't have to be a mathematician to analyze the formulas in SPSS. As long as I understand which data I put in the formula and where in the formula and what comes out of the calculation. This makes SPSS less time consuming than calculating statistical formulas with Excel. The disadvantage of SPSS is that it is a very expensive program.

Tableau

A newer program in the field of analysis is Tableau. Tableau is a cross between Excel, SPSS and GIS (GIS is a program that allows me to display data on geographical maps). This is ideal because with Tableau I only need Tableau to create both charts and maps. In addition, Tableau has the option to tell a story with my data. In Story mode I can paste different graphs one after the other and have them play automatically so that, for example, the progress of sales figures over the years becomes clear. Tableau works well with Excel by linking it.

Infographics

Image is becoming increasingly important for people to understand things, but also because I have too little time. With an infographic, I can be sure that I help a reader in better understanding the stats/numbers of my research. I can create infographics myself by using existing figures / images or by having a designer make drawings from scratch. If I don't want distortions or spread "false" information, keep a close eye on whether the drawing still conforms to the statistically ratios (verhoudingen).