Visualizing Your Business: Let Graphics Tell the Story (With CD-ROM)

Rating:
Summary: Great reference guide
Review: Offers a comprehensive array of information on different ways to present business data. I have not seen such a thorough compilation before, and find that I regularly refer to this when tackling various projects.

Rating:
Summary: Invaluable collection of business tools
Review: This book is an encyclopedia of business graphics. It provides 101 different types of charts and graphs, and is organized based on how and when the chart and graph types are appropriate. The organization is Tracking, Variances And Comparisons, Presentation, Schematics And Maps, Organizing Data/Information, Probability, Prediction And What-If, Strategy, Financial, and Marketing.

I frequently use charts to display data and considered myself an expert; however, I discovered new chart and graph types, such as web maps and Marimekko graphs, that I had never before encountered. It would be an understatement to say that this book has significantly expanded my graphics vocabulary.

What I especially liked, in addition to the wide array of charts, is the advice on effectively using them. Although the writing is terse, each chart is discussed in a consistent format. The accompanying CD ROM adds even more value to this book because 26 of the tools are provided in either PowerPoint, Excel or Acrobat format. This allows you to tailor and use preformatted charts and graphs instead of having to create them from scratch.