Frame the business question
What decision needs to be made? Allocate resources, track requests or identify delays? Write down the question before building the dashboard. Each indicator should help an identified person act.
Define data and calculations
For each indicator, specify the source, time period, calculation rule and update frequency. Distinguish missing values from zero. A shared definition prevents teams from assigning different meanings to the same number.
Connect review to action
Show the update date and known data limitations. During reviews, record questions, agreed actions and their owners. A dashboard becomes useful when it supports regular discussion and decisions that are followed through.