Telling the Story

Mekko Graphics Charts as a Tool for Six Sigma

Six Sigma is a methodology and a business philosophy that is aimed at enhancing the efficiency and productivity of a business to increase turnover and profits. Introduced in 1986, Motorola initiated this effort as a strategy for businesses to try and improve manufacturing processes and reduce the number of production problems that were costing Motorola millions of dollars.  Since then, Six Sigma tools have amassed massive popularity among many corporate organizations because of their great economic effects on the bottom line. 

Commonly used Six Sigma tools include control charts, Histograms and Pareto charts. Control charts provide information and they are also used in monitoring and controlling process performance. Histograms and Pareto charts are used to summarize data. Histograms display frequency distribution. Pareto Charts generally display a rank order of categories to give the user a visual of the highest to lowest ranked items.  A Pareto chart will display differences between various groups of data and will also establish the relative importance (rank) of the different groups of data.

Mekko Graphics provides a wide range of chart types common to Six Sigma needs, including Bar Mekko or Stacked Bar Line (Pareto), Stacked Bar (Histogram), Line (Control Charts), and Scatter charts.

Below are some examples of Mekko Graphics charts used in Six Sigma applications.

 

 

 
 

 

Reference: http://www.sixsigmaonline.org

Should I use a scatter or a line chart?

Recently, during the Q&A portion of our Mekko Graphics webinar, I was asked how to know when to use a line chart versus when to use a scatter chart.   This is a great question, as scatter charts and line charts look very similar to each other, especially when a scatter chart is displayed with connecting lines.  But, there are specific uses for each, and there are easy questions to ask yourself to determine which chart will best portray the data you wish to present.

You will want to choose a scatter chart if you wish to show relationships among numeric values in several different series.  Each dot in a scatter chart represents a specific xy coordinate.  

 

Conversely, you might wish to use a line chart to show trends in data either at equal intervals or over a period of time.  Line charts present data against a common scale. The data is distributed evenly across the x axis.  If your x axis contains non-numeric values, such as months, it is generally better to use a line chart. For numeric x values, it is generally a better choice to use a scatter chart.

 
 

Other questions to consider are

1. The scale of the x axis. If, for example, you wish to use a logarithmic scale, you might choose a scatter chart as opposed to a line chart.
2. Do you wish to show patterns?  Scatter charts are most useful for illustrating patterns in data, like clusters of data, or outliers.
3. Do you wish to compare groups of data points without time as a factor?  Scatter charts show comparisons, and the more data you include in your scatter chart, the better the comparison.
4. Are you using an evenly spaced interval across the x axis?   Line charts are best when using evenly spaced numerical labels that represent a time interval, such as years.  On the other hand, a scatter chart always has two value axes to show one set of numerical data along a horizontal (value) axis and another set of numerical values along a vertical (value) axis. The chart displays points at the intersection of an x and y numerical value, combining these values into single data points. These data points may be distributed evenly or unevenly across the horizontal axis, depending on the data.
5. Does one series need to be plotted on a different scale? You can create 2Y Line charts, when one or more series are best displayed on a different scale.

Mekko Graphics 5 is here!

We've taken Mekko Graphics to the next level. Mekko Graphics 5 is now available and includes new features in direct response to your requests. And we've added some surprises that we think you'll appreciate and enjoy. Fully compatible with MS Office 2010 (32-bit), with a new user interface, and enhanced data manipulation, Mekko Graphics 5 helps you deliver your message faster and more easily than ever before.

So you might be familiar with some of the major headliners:

• New User Interface
  Yup, it's new, and offers a ribbon toolbar both inside Mekko Graphics and for Mekko-related functions in PowerPoint for our Office 2007 and 2010 users.  The new User Interface will help you find what you need more quickly and efficiently, and has the look and feel of the latest in Office applications.

 

• Compatible with Office 2010 (32-bit)
  Probably the #1 request by our users, and yes, it is fully compatible with Office 2010.
• Improved Preference Manager with more control and customization options
  You asked for more control and we gave it to you.  You're going to love the new Preference Manager features. Now, you can set default color style (multi-color, no shading, or black and white) so all your charts will draw with that setting applied.  We also offer a new, smarter, alternative pattern option which displays more solids and fewer patterns on your charts, the ability to set default colors for your Gantt chart, and the option to set your "No Shading" color.

 
 

• Increased speed
  We've optimized some background processes to make opening, editing and saving charts faster, so you can create your decks even more quickly and efficiently.
• Improved label editing
  We've improved our inplace editing feature to allow for more extensive formatting choices, and the ability to see the entire label in the inplace editing screen.

 

But wait, there’s more!   Here’s even more features for you might not be aware of:

• Easier for Win 7 users
  Now that we've eliminated Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 as a requirement, Windows 7 users will experience a more seamless integration with our software.
• Ability to create custom colors that stay with your chart
  Now you can create custom colors for your chart on-the-fly right from the Mekko Graphics application. And they save to your chart, so even if you mail your chart to a colleague who has a different palette, the colors will retain.

 

• Elimination of Excel conflicts
  We've eliminated the occasional conflicts with third party Excel add-ins by the inclusion of a new spreadsheet control that allows you to launch Mekko Graphics charts faster and switch back and forth between Mekko Graphics and Microsoft Excel more seamlessly.
• Ability to customize Quick Access Toolbar (QAT)
  For those of you who take advantage of Microsoft's QAT and depend on it, we now offer QAT support from within the Mekko Graphics application 

• Edit in Excel
  This is a slick new button in the data view section of our application that allows you to take your existing Mekko Graphics data and edit that data in Excel right from within the Mekko Graphics application.  Simply click the button right from Mekko Graphics and all your data automatically copies to an Excel spreadsheet, allowing you to do any editing. When you are finished, simply close the window and the data gets automatically inserted back into your Mekko Graphics data view. 

 

• Are you an IPhone or Blackberry User?
  Mekko Graphics charts are now viewable on your mobile devices. You can paste a chart object right into your email for easy viewing!

We're excited about all the new features and want to know what you think. We'd love to hear your thoughts about the new features. Comment or email us support@mekkographics.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charts in the State of the Union Address

Technological “State of the Union” history was made this week by President Obama on Whitehouse.gov.

Here’s a brief history of the State of the Union address. In 1790, George Washington gave the first State of the Union address. It was in person, and it was called “The First Annual Message to Congress,” with John Adams following suit. The speech was only shared with the public through the newspaper.  In 1801, Thomas Jefferson actually discontinued the practice of delivering the address in person, regarding it as “too kingly.” Instead, it was written down and sent to Congress, read by a clerk.  In 1923, our nation got to hear the annual message via the radio for the first time by Calvin Coolidge.

 
Image Source Page: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4886813

In 1947, Harry Truman’s State of the Union address (FDR was the first to coin the term in 1935) was the first to be broadcast on television.

Image Source Page: http://www.vrml.k12.la.us/french/ahs/yearfestivals/cattlefestivaln/cattlfestival.htm

In 2002, George W. Bush’s State of the Union’s address made history by being the first to broadcast on the Internet. This week, President Obama’s White House website, www.whitehouse.gov, not only simulcast his speech, they added charts, graphs and photos to help enhance and support his ideas and arguments while he was making them. He used the latest online technologies of steaming video, images, and charts relevant to his comments.

 

 

Image Source - http://www.whitehouse.gov/state-of-the-union-2011

Regardless of your political viewpoints, this demonstrated a new and innovative way to engage and educate the audience and it made State of the Union technological history.  It truly helped them "tell the story."

Source: http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/thepresidentandcabinet/a/souhistory.htm

Mekko Graphics 201 FREE Webinar!

Our FREE Mekko Graphics 2.0 Webinar has been a huge success!  This more advanced training session takes it to the next level, going beyond the basics by introducing some of the more advanced features that truly distinguish Mekko Graphics to be the leading charting solution. We are currently offering this training every other month, so sign up early to reserve your spot. 

In One Hour You Will Learn More Advanced Editing Techniques such as:

• Link to Excel
• Using the Preference Manager to change default colors, fonts, Y-axis orientation
• Formatting the legend to make it work for your presentation
• Hiding bars, adjusting margins, sorting series, showing data rows and more

We also include a Q&A session where you may ask those burning Mekko Graphics questions. This is a great opportunity to fine tune your already-existing knowledge as well as pick up some new tips!

And if you are a new user or just need a refresher on the basics, we still offer Mekko Graphics 101, which offers a great introduction to key concepts to start you on your way to building charts quickly and easily!  To sign up for the next Mekko Graphics 101 webinar, click here.

Market Map Example for Start-up Company

A start-up home furnishing company wishes to examine the home furnishing industry to determine where they should invest their resources for the biggest payoff.  Their goal is to make decisions about which markets to inject themselves into, that will give them the best chance of growth. They wish to see not only the current major players’ position in the market, but also the segmentation of the market types themselves.  They have to examine the many markets including furniture, giftware, lawn and garden equipment, cookware, dinnerware/china/glassware, and seasonal accessories.   

They create a marimekko chart, or market map.

 
  
What can they learn? First, the largest segments are Furniture, Giftware, and Lawn/Garden. They represent over half the market.  The Furniture and Giftware segments are concentrated and dominated primarily by Company A and Company B. Their chance of successfully entering these markets is relatively small. On the other hand, they might have a better chance in the Lawn/Garden market, as that market is more fragmented.

In this case, the marimekko chart provides clear information to this start-up company about what segments are the most attractive.

cum hoc ergo propter hoc (with this, therefore because of this)

Did you know that there’s a strong, positive correlation between ice cream purchases and murder rates? When ice cream purchases increase, murder rates increase. When ice cream purchases decrease, murder rates decrease. Does ice cream cause murder?

Two relationships between variables are often confused: correlation and causation. Correlation refers to a relationship between two (or more) variables in which they change together. A correlation can be positive/direct or negative/inverse. A positive correlation means that as one variable increases (e.g., ice cream sales) the other variable also increases (e.g., murder rates). A negative correlation is just the opposite; as one variable increases. Causation refers to a relationship between two (or more) variables where one variable causes the other.

As you might have guessed, there’s a third variable that influences both. Weather. When it’s warmer, people are more inclined to buy ice cream. And when the weather is warmer, people are also more prone to violent acts.

When creating or interpreting charts, it’s easy to confuse correlation and causation.  In fact, Scatter charts are designed to try and compare two variables to see correlation.

 
It’s good to identify that relationships between variables exist. But it’s better to determine why they exist. In this industry, we need to be very careful when interpreting charts displaying a correlation and making recommendations based on these findings. In fact, we may end up making recommendations that aren’t useful — or that even backfire when we’re trying to reach our goals. If not, we may end up arming cold ice cream shops with law enforcement personnel when they are desperately needed in the hot streets.

 

visual  from www.xkcd.com

Mekko Graphics 2.0 Webinar: Coming Soon!

You spoke and we listened! Announcing our FREE Mekko Graphics 2.0 Webinar - to premiere later this summer. We’re in the process of developing content right now and we'd love your feedback. We plan to include some charts and functions not covered fully in 101, such as Combination (bar-line) charts, 2Y, legend formatting, Preference Manager, Link to Excel, and Mekko tables.  There are lots other functions we could cover but we really want to hear from you!

Please tell us what you want to see!  You can comment to this blog or send an email to us Mekko Graphics. We’re listening!

 

Hypnotizing Chickens

A recent New York Times article about how PowerPoint presentations are a major problem in the military contains an example of an actual PowerPoint slide used last summer in Kabul meant to portray the complexity of American military strategy.  The slide is so comical, it’s gone viral on the internet.

The problem has gotten so severe that some military officers have gone so far as to ban the PowerPoint application entirely.  Thomas Hammes, a retired Marine colonel, referred to news media sessions using PowerPoint slides as so mind-numbing that it is like “hypnotizing chickens.”

And comedians are getting in on the act as seen here in this wildly popular stand up routine. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORxFwBR4smE&feature=player_embedded

Even Dr. Edward Tufte of Yale University, an expert on information presentation who has participated in the accident investigation of both Space Shuttles, wrote extensively on the misuse of PowerPoint slides in NASA during the accident investigation board.

I once sat in a district-wide, start-of-school-year meeting in which the presenter (with a Ph.D. behind her name) told us how to make classroom learning more interesting.  She presented her material using PowerPoint and read it to us verbatim. Talk about irony!

But aren’t we blaming the instrument, instead of the conductor? PowerPoint isn’t what’s broken; what’s broken is how we use it.  PowerPoint is a tool, and when used effectively, can be valuable in communicating your message, whether that message be in the form of charts, words, images, diagrams, etc.  How?  First, identify your audience. Tailor your message to speak to them.  Be creative, and that doesn’t mean using animation so your slide does cartwheels across the screen. It does mean thinking about the best way to communicate the information.  It could very well be a chart, a table, or list; it could be a diagram, or just text.   PowerPoint is not providing the message -- you are.   Don’t use it if it doesn’t help you communicate something better than you can do alone.  PowerPoint is meant to assist in the presentation, not BE the presentation.

You're Likely Reading this on your IPhone.

We all know the use of different media has drastically shifted over time. 

The Atlantic recently had an interesting article on how we consume information and how our sources of information have changed. Clearly, the big losers here are print and radio and the big winners are computers and phones, though I'm surprised that radio is still such a dominant source of information.  The best news of all is that, contrary to popular perception, reading has actually increased in general, largely due to the increase in the numbers of blogs and websites.

 
Source: Bohn and Short, 2009, "How Much Information? 2009 Report on American Consumers"

I took a stab at creating this chart as a 100% stacked bar with comparison lines. Take a look. Does it display the information more or less clearly?

Information consumption

View more presentations from MekkoGraphics.

Discuss.