Management Dashboard: How to Create One Your Managers Will Actually Use

An effective SMB management dashboard should answer a single question in less than 30 seconds: Are we on the right track? No more. If it takes 10 minutes to interpret it, it will not be used. Simplicity is not a shortcoming, it is a strategic choice.

We often meet SME managers who do not follow any dashboard, no indicator and do not know which ones to choose.

1. Why most dashboards used by SMBs don’t have the impact they want

Indicators not aligned with strategic directions: When the chosen indicators do not guide leaders in their most important decisions, the dashboard loses its raison d’être.

Too many indicators: Too many indicators create confusion and dilute attention. We lose sight of what really matters.

Not visual enough: Columns of numbers do not provide any indication of direction. A simple color code, red, yellow, green and a visible trend allow instant reading.

Irregular update: A table consulted sporadically does not influence decisions. The regularity of the update is as important as the indicators themselves.

Not suitable for the role: The needs of a general manager, a production manager, and a sales manager are different. The dashboards are adapted according to the needs.

2. The principles of a good SMB management dashboard

Principle 1: Limit the number of indicators per table
Beyond a certain number of indicators, the readability of the dashboard decreases. If your board has too many KPIs, consider structuring it into two levels: an executive board focused on strategic metrics and departmental charts for operational metrics.

Principle 2: Red, yellow and green

Each indicator must have a target and an alert threshold defined in advance. Green = on the target. Yellow = to be monitored. Red = action required. This coding allows instant playback without analysis.

Principle 3: Update frequency depends on the level

An executive dashboard can be monthly. An operational table should be weekly or even daily for certain indicators (production rate, deliveries). The rule: frequency must allow you to act before the situation degenerates.

3. The steps to create your dashboard

• Step 1: Define the audience : who is this painting for? A general manager? A team leader? Their questions and decisions are different.
• Step 2: List the 3 key decisions that this table should facilitate : draw inspiration from three concrete decisions to guide you in the choice of indicators.
• Step 3: Choose an indicator per decision : that’s the basic rule. A decision, a measure.
• Step 4: Set targets and alert thresholds : based on your historical data and strategic objectives.
• Step 5: Choose the simplest tool that meets the need : Excel to start, Power BI or Google Data Studio when the need changes.
• Step 6: Review it in a meeting, every time, without exception : the dashboard comes to life during meetings and discussions.

4. Case in point: a production manager’s dashboard

Here is a simple example of a weekly dashboard for a production manager of a manufacturing SME:

• On-time delivery rate (target: 95% | alert threshold: 88%)
• End-of-line defect rate (target: < 1.5% | alert level: 3%)
• Unplanned outages (target: 0 | alert threshold: > 2 hours/week)
• Compliance with the production plan (target: > 95% | alert threshold: < 85%)

These four indicators answer a single question: do we produce what we need to produce, well, on time, without interruption?

A useful management dashboard

A useful management dashboard isn’t the most sophisticated. It’s the one your managers actually consult, every week, to make better decisions faster. The best dashboard is the one that exists, is understood, and is used in meetings.

At Progrès Conseils, we help SMEs design and implement operational dashboards adapted to their reality. If you want to review your measurement system, we start with a conversation.