Tasks and Duties
Objective
The goal of this task is to plan and outline a comprehensive strategy for a Power BI reporting project using publicly available data. This exercise will help you understand how to conceptualize a dashboard project from a high-level perspective, aligning business objectives with the technical functionalities of Power BI.
Expected Deliverables
- A detailed DOC file containing a project plan.
- A blueprint of the planned dashboard, including layout sketches and key performance indicators.
- An explanation of the data sources to be used and the rationale behind their selection.
Key Steps to Complete the Task
- Research and select a publicly available dataset relevant to a business scenario of your choice.
- Define clear project objectives, target audience, and key insights that you aim to communicate via the dashboard.
- Create a detailed outline including the types of visualizations, data drilldowns, and interactive elements to be implemented.
- Sketch a layout diagram illustrating the flow and placement of charts, tables, and filters.
- Document the planned data transformation and integration steps.
Evaluation Criteria
- Clarity and completeness of the project plan.
- Logical alignment between business objectives and technical design.
- Quality and detail in the dashboard blueprint.
- Appropriate use of technical terminology and clarity in reporting methodology.
This task requires around 30 to 35 hours of work, including research, planning, and documentation. Ensure that every section of your DOC file is clearly labeled and structured, and provide thorough explanations. The blueprint should stand as a complete guide for someone else to understand your vision without additional instructions.
Objective
This week’s task focuses on the foundational aspects of data preparation, specifically in designing a robust data model and outlining an ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) process. The task is intended to strengthen your understanding of data structuring in Power BI, including data cleaning, relationship mapping, and transformation procedures.
Expected Deliverables
- A DOC file that contains a detailed data model diagram with entity relationships.
- A comprehensive description of your ETL process, including data extraction, cleaning, transformation, and loading methods.
- Documentation of sample DAX measures that support your data model.
Key Steps to Complete the Task
- Select a publicly available dataset that has multiple related data tables.
- Design a data model using a diagram, ensuring the relationships (one-to-many, many-to-many) are clearly depicted.
- Outline a step-by-step ETL process including data cleansing and transformation logic to optimize the model for reporting.
- Document any calculated columns or measures using DAX formulas to enhance the data model.
- Review and justify each step with expected benefits to overall data analytics.
Evaluation Criteria
- Accuracy and clarity in the data model diagram.
- Depth and detail in the ETL process description.
- Proper documentation and explanation of DAX measures.
- Overall organization and readability of the DOC file.
This task is expected to require 30 to 35 hours of work, ensuring that all steps are clearly documented and that your approach to data modeling is robust and replicable. Be meticulous in your descriptions so that a peer can understand and reuse your documented processes effortlessly.
Objective
This task requires you to develop a detailed plan for constructing dynamic reports and visualizations in Power BI. The focus is on the effective design of interactive dashboards that clearly communicate insights derived from data analysis. This exercise demonstrates your ability to convert raw data into a user-friendly visual analytics tool.
Expected Deliverables
- A DOC file that details the design process for building interactive reports and dashboards.
- A mock-up or storyboard of the dashboard layout incorporating various visualizations (charts, graphs, etc.).
- Documentation explaining the choice of visualization types and how they relate to key business questions.
Key Steps to Complete the Task
- Choose a publicly available dataset to simulate the analytics context.
- Identify key performance metrics and insights that your dashboard should deliver.
- Create a comprehensive storyboard that illustrates the progression of data from raw form to actionable insights.
- Define the use of filters, slicers, and interactivity aspects that enhance user experience.
- Outline expected user interactions with the dashboard and the logic behind each visual element integrated into the design.
Evaluation Criteria
- Creativity and practicality of the dashboard layout design.
- Clarity in documenting the rationale behind each visualization type.
- Level of detail provided in the storyboard and process explanation.
- Structured and logical progression of design steps.
The completion of this task should take approximately 30 to 35 hours. Your DOC file should provide a detailed narrative on how the dashboard components work together to deliver insights, ensuring that all design decisions are well-supported by explanations and that the final blueprint is easily understandable for subsequent development phases.
Objective
This week’s task is centered around the advanced analytical capabilities of Power BI, specifically focusing on creating and documenting complex DAX calculations. This project aims to deepen your skills in building custom measures, calculated columns, and KPIs that drive nuanced insights from your data. The task emphasizes linking business logic to analytical formulas to enhance report insights.
Expected Deliverables
- A comprehensive DOC file detailing each advanced DAX formula used.
- An explanation of the business logic behind each measure or KPI.
- A flowchart or diagram illustrating how data analytics components integrate into the final Power BI report.
Key Steps to Complete the Task
- Identify key business performance indicators that could be enhanced by advanced calculations.
- Develop several DAX measures and calculated columns using a publicly available dataset.
- Create a detailed explanation and breakdown of each formula, including variable definitions and expected outcomes.
- Include diagrams or flowcharts that connect the mathematical logic with visual outputs.
- Discuss potential troubleshooting techniques and optimization strategies for DAX calculations.
Evaluation Criteria
- Technical accuracy and complexity of the DAX formulas documented.
- Clarity in explaining how each formula relates to business logic.
- Usefulness and detail in the integrated diagram/flowchart.
- Overall presentation and structured documentation of analytical methods.
You are expected to dedicate 30 to 35 hours for this task. Ensure that your DOC file is highly detailed, covering each formula step-by-step, thereby creating a living document that serves as a reference for advanced analytical methods in Power BI.
Objective
This task is designed to improve the performance, usability, and overall design of your Power BI reports. The focus is on applying best practices in dashboard optimization, understanding performance bottlenecks, and enhancing the overall user experience of your reports. You will document a series of modifications and optimizations designed to both increase report efficiency and improve visual appeal.
Expected Deliverables
- A DOC file that details your approach to dashboard optimization.
- A systematic evaluation of existing dashboards outlining identified issues and proposed improvements.
- A set of recommendations and a step-by-step guide for performance tuning.
Key Steps to Complete the Task
- Review common performance and usability issues in dashboards and identify key factors affecting them.
- Select a publicly available dataset, and hypothetically construct a suboptimal dashboard scenario.
- Analyze the suboptimal design to pinpoint areas for improvement, including load time, visual clarity, and interactivity.
- Detail steps to optimize data models, enhance visual components, and refine user interaction elements.
- Provide test scenarios and guidelines for validating the success of your optimizations.
Evaluation Criteria
- Depth of analysis in identifying performance issues.
- Quality and feasibility of the proposed optimization steps.
- Clarity and organization of the documentation process.
- Inclusion of realistic test scenarios and validation strategies.
This task should take around 30 to 35 hours to complete. Your DOC file must be detailed and logical, clearly delineating between diagnostic steps, corrective measures, and validation methods. The deliverable should be an actionable guide for optimizing Power BI dashboards, emphasizing both technical adjustments and user experience enhancements.
Objective
This final task focuses on critically evaluating a fully developed Power BI report, establishing performance benchmarks, and framing a strategy for continuous improvement. The aim is to document an in-depth review process that not only assesses current analytics outcomes but also identifies potential enhancements in format, efficiency, and user interactivity.
Expected Deliverables
- A DOC file containing an evaluation report of a hypothetical or proxy Power BI report.
- An in-depth analysis that includes performance metrics, user feedback simulation, and areas needing enhancement.
- A continuous improvement plan with clear, measurable recommendations that guide future enhancements.
Key Steps to Complete the Task
- Select a publicly available dataset and conceptualize a complete Power BI report scenario.
- Conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the report’s performance, including loading times, data accuracy, and visual clarity.
- Simulate user feedback and highlight potential usability issues through detailed documentation.
- Develop a phased continuous improvement roadmap that prioritizes key performance indicators and user experience drivers.
- Outline and justify each recommendation by referencing best practices in data analytics and reporting.
Evaluation Criteria
- Comprehensiveness in evaluating multiple facets of the Power BI report.
- Quality and clarity of the continuous improvement roadmap.
- Practicality and specificity of recommendations made.
- Logical flow and detailed explanation in the DOC file.
This task is expected to take 30 to 35 hours to complete. Your documentation should be exhaustive, offering a clear narrative that spans from evaluation to actionable recommendations. The final REPORT should be a self-contained guide, enabling an independent review and ongoing improvement of the Power BI report without additional input.