The Pyramid Principle: Powerful for Presentations, Problematic for Power BI Dashboards

As a data analyst we understand the importance of structured thinking and clear communication. The Pyramid Principle provides the main idea how to organize data that help us answer different questions asked by stakeholders or team members. And the same principle we might want to use when we need to create dashboard in Power BI. It means that when we create visualisation we always be highlighting just certain part of data and accidently hide other. And if you find yourself in similar situation consider next information and don't get to trap of misleading dashboard visualisation.

• Dashboards often has multiple data points, KPIs, and insights. The Pyramid Principle's strong structure might limit this complexity, making it difficult to present a holistic view.

• Power BI encourage users to explore data from various angles. The Pyramid Principle's predetermined hierarchy limits this ability, potentially forcing users down a path the dashboard designer envisioned, hindering valuable discoveries.

• Effective dashboards leverage visuals to communicate insights quickly. The Pyramid Principle's focus on text-heavy hierarchies can downplay the power of charts, graphs, and other visual elements in Power BI.

How to avoid the trap? Flip the Pyramid and multiply available ideas.

• Focus on Chart:  Design any chart like it works self-sufficiently. What questions do it need to be answered? Prioritize based on what key takeaways you can get this chart and how you plan use that piece of puzzle.

• Leverage Flexibility: Try to see how chart interacts with filters and adjust their behavior best way. Think about how charts can work independently and as a whole.

• Be challenge oriented:  Create whole picture from pieces could be much heavy and will be rising more questions when answers. Explore how the dashboard is using by different groups of users and be ready for questions. Answers and use cases are valuable information that must be used to improve dashboard visualisation and chart adjustment