How to Use a Microsoft Excel 2003 Dashboard

1. Produce an annual report or magazine quality visuals reports using Excel. Use templates downloaded from the Microsoft website. Create a chart by arranging the data (that you want to plot in your chart) in columns and rows. Select the cells you want to include and from the Insert menu, click the Chart option. Select the type of chart you want to represent your data. For example, select a pie chart, and decide where you want to place the chart.
2. Replace charts that do not reflect the data you want used. Because Excel is so flexible, you can lay out the flow of business processes and drill down into the lower level data necessary to make effective decisions about your business. Customizing an Excel dashboard for your particular needs makes it more useful.
3. Use ratios, calculations and other data shown on a visual dashboard to make effective decisions for your business. Dashboards provide a visual representation of your company's business performance and allow you to identify and mitigate any negative results or inefficiencies. Dashboards save executives time by aggregating data into a single visual report that allows them to make informed decisions.
4. Use Excel formulas to test for errors by comparing data, identifying missing values and listing values that exceed defined parameters.
5. Access underlying data to drill down into specific issues and make effective choices about actions to take to rectify any problems you uncover.