BY SETHZ
Key takeaway
Reliable reporting starts with agreed metric definitions, complete submissions, visible review status and action ownership. A dashboard should expose unresolved inputs and reporting periods alongside its figures.
Define the inputs.
Prepare the work.
Own the next action.
A dashboard presents information. The process behind it determines whether that information is complete, current and ready to use.
Consider a recurring reporting cycle across several companies. A reporting view may show a figure for each company while leaving important questions unanswered: which period does it cover, has the submission been reviewed, and are any required inputs missing?
Those questions need to be addressed before the information reaches the reporting view.
Define the requirement
Agree what each company should submit, when it is due and how the metrics are defined. Record the source and reporting period alongside the values. Where definitions vary, the workflow needs an explicit way to handle that variation.
The collection process should show who is responsible for the submission and what remains outstanding. That gives the reporting team a basis for follow-up.
Make information status visible
Received information is not necessarily reviewed information. A useful process distinguishes between submission, preparation, review and approval.
Missing or inconsistent inputs should have an owner and a next action. If an item is unresolved, the reporting view needs to communicate the appropriate status instead of quietly treating it as complete.
Connect reporting to follow-up
The workflow continues after a reporting pack is prepared. Questions raised during review and actions agreed in a meeting need to reach the people responsible for resolving them.
Attach the relevant context, assign ownership and define the due date. The next reporting cycle can then include the state of those actions where appropriate.
Evaluate the supporting process
Useful measures may include submission completion, time spent preparing the pack, review turnaround and unresolved items. They explain where work is getting delayed and whether the implementation is helping.
A clear dashboard can make information easier to understand. Defined collection, review and follow-up processes make that view more useful in daily operations.
Put this into practice
Explore our custom AI systems and business tools, review how we assess and implement a workflow, or discuss your firm’s requirement.