Enhancing Financial Transparency and Communication Through Visual Elements in Finnish Housing Companies
Porthen, Onni (2026)
2026
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2026052215332
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2026052215332
Tiivistelmä
The purpose of this product-based thesis is to examine the current reporting formats and find a way to improve financial transparency and the comprehension of shareholders in Finnish housing companies, which is done by using visual elements in financial reporting, with emphasis also on sustainability and consumption monitoring. The thesis is commissioned by a Finnish property management company, Myyrmäen Huolto Oy and focuses on housing companies located in the Helsinki metropolitan area. The scope of the thesis is limited to covering the financial and consumption reporting of housing companies, and the aim is not to replace the current form of reporting, but to enhance and support it.
The thesis consists of a theoretical section, an empirical analysis, and the development process of the visual toolkit. The theoretical framework covers identifying the operating methods of housing companies in Finland, financial transparency and communication, visualization of data, the theory behind using different forms of data, and sustainability reporting. The empirical section uses qualitative research methods consisting of interviews with property managers from the commissioning company, with the focus on understanding the current reporting practices and challenges shareholders face. This is followed by the analysis of the results and the identification of the main recurring themes. The theory and empirical findings are then combined to be used in the development of the visual toolkit.
The product of the thesis is a visual toolkit made for the use of shareholders in Finnish housing companies. The toolkit is made by Power BI, which allows for modification and visualization of the data collected from the reporting software used in the commissioning company. The structure of the toolkit is divided into separate dashboards that feature financial, consumption, and energy project-related information in a clear and understandable format. The toolkit transforms the current data-heavy reporting into visual representations that improve transparency, shareholder comprehension, and provide tools for increased decision-making.
The toolkit was used in an annual meeting of one of the housing companies, and feedback was collected from the shareholders using an anonymous survey. The results indicate that the toolkit was found useful and relevant among the respondents. The answers showed that visual reporting improved the understanding of data, especially the key financial and consumption figures. Respondents also found it easier to notice deviations in the data when presented in visual form. The dashboards solved many of the challenges found in current reporting, and the results indicate that value was added to the shareholders by improving clarity and decision-making.
The thesis consists of a theoretical section, an empirical analysis, and the development process of the visual toolkit. The theoretical framework covers identifying the operating methods of housing companies in Finland, financial transparency and communication, visualization of data, the theory behind using different forms of data, and sustainability reporting. The empirical section uses qualitative research methods consisting of interviews with property managers from the commissioning company, with the focus on understanding the current reporting practices and challenges shareholders face. This is followed by the analysis of the results and the identification of the main recurring themes. The theory and empirical findings are then combined to be used in the development of the visual toolkit.
The product of the thesis is a visual toolkit made for the use of shareholders in Finnish housing companies. The toolkit is made by Power BI, which allows for modification and visualization of the data collected from the reporting software used in the commissioning company. The structure of the toolkit is divided into separate dashboards that feature financial, consumption, and energy project-related information in a clear and understandable format. The toolkit transforms the current data-heavy reporting into visual representations that improve transparency, shareholder comprehension, and provide tools for increased decision-making.
The toolkit was used in an annual meeting of one of the housing companies, and feedback was collected from the shareholders using an anonymous survey. The results indicate that the toolkit was found useful and relevant among the respondents. The answers showed that visual reporting improved the understanding of data, especially the key financial and consumption figures. Respondents also found it easier to notice deviations in the data when presented in visual form. The dashboards solved many of the challenges found in current reporting, and the results indicate that value was added to the shareholders by improving clarity and decision-making.