Note · Sample note · Interface design

A Small Rule for Better Operational Dashboards

Every number should help someone notice a condition or decide what to do next.

Before adding a metric, ask which decision changes when the number moves. If there is no clear answer, it may belong in a report rather than on the dashboard.

Useful dashboards emphasize exceptions, aging items, workload, and trends. The goal is not to display everything the database knows; it is to make the next action easier to recognize.