Improving Data Visualization to Increase Accountability and Data-Driven Leadership
Boyaci, Burak Kaan (2025)
2025
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025052114236
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025052114236
Tiivistelmä
The objective of this thesis was to improve data visualization to enhance accountability and foster data-driven leadership for Organization A within the case company. In large organizations like the case company, effective data collection and visualization are critical for driving decision-making and promoting accountability.
This thesis followed an applied action research approach and addressed real-life problems at Organization A. Data collection was conducted using nine interviews, one workshop, observations, and analysis of internal documents. The research design included five sequential steps, supported by three data collection rounds. The first step involved setting up the thesis objective. The second step included conducting the current state analysis to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the data-driven leadership. Based on the results, three key weaknesses were prioritized for development. In the third step, available knowledge and best practices were explored on the topics of data, accountability, and dashboards. All these previous inputs were used to develop the initial proposal for Organization A within the case company. As a fourth and fifth step, the initial and final proposals were developed.
The outcome of this thesis is a proposal for Organization A within the case company for improving data visualization to enhance accountability and foster data-driven leadership. This final outcome comprises six actionable elements: recommending data visualization tools, providing data-related training sessions, creating dashboard guidelines, designing dashboard templates, compiling a list of existing dashboards with their designated owners, and developing FAQs on data visualization. As the study focused solely on developing the proposal, its implementation and measuring impacts are not included in the scope of the thesis. After implementing each of these elements, they are expected to help Organization A within the case company improve data visualization to enhance accountability and foster data-driven leadership. Properly visualized data can uncover hidden issues, simplify communication and collaboration across teams, and strengthen accountability at Organization A within the case company. Ultimately, these improvements should support Organization A within the case company in having more efficient decision-making and a culture of data-driven leadership.
This thesis followed an applied action research approach and addressed real-life problems at Organization A. Data collection was conducted using nine interviews, one workshop, observations, and analysis of internal documents. The research design included five sequential steps, supported by three data collection rounds. The first step involved setting up the thesis objective. The second step included conducting the current state analysis to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the data-driven leadership. Based on the results, three key weaknesses were prioritized for development. In the third step, available knowledge and best practices were explored on the topics of data, accountability, and dashboards. All these previous inputs were used to develop the initial proposal for Organization A within the case company. As a fourth and fifth step, the initial and final proposals were developed.
The outcome of this thesis is a proposal for Organization A within the case company for improving data visualization to enhance accountability and foster data-driven leadership. This final outcome comprises six actionable elements: recommending data visualization tools, providing data-related training sessions, creating dashboard guidelines, designing dashboard templates, compiling a list of existing dashboards with their designated owners, and developing FAQs on data visualization. As the study focused solely on developing the proposal, its implementation and measuring impacts are not included in the scope of the thesis. After implementing each of these elements, they are expected to help Organization A within the case company improve data visualization to enhance accountability and foster data-driven leadership. Properly visualized data can uncover hidden issues, simplify communication and collaboration across teams, and strengthen accountability at Organization A within the case company. Ultimately, these improvements should support Organization A within the case company in having more efficient decision-making and a culture of data-driven leadership.