ACC ACF 2400 Semester 2, 2017

Individual Assignment 1:
Building a Business Dashboard
Overview
A business dashboard is a style of reporting that depicts KPIs, operational or strategic information with
intuitive and interactive displays (Turban et al., 2015 p. 380). It is a single screen snapshot of how a
business, department, or process is performing. The design varies considerably from one application
to another, and even between businesses, but a common feature of a dashboard is that it uses graphs,
coloured text, and symbols to show the viewer, at a glance, the current status. A dashboard should
only contain information that actually influences performance. Many dashboards are interactive
because it can be difficult to show every important detail at once.
You are an employee at Australian Electronics Pty Ltd. You have been assigned the task of designing
a report that will be used by managers involved in purchasing, sales, and inventory management.
Your boss, Mary Smith, suggest including at least four (4) ratios. Regarding the ratios, Mary thinks
that Inventory Turnover and Sales Growth are a must.
This is an individual assignment. There is no fixed answer, so be creative!! The spreadsheet must
perform ratio analysis to show the current status of the inventory holdings and sales. Marks are
awarded according to how well the dashboard meets the requirements specified in the rubric.
A data set is supplied with this guide in Moodle (ACC ACF 2400_s2 2017_Inventory Statistics.xlsx). The
Inventory Statistics data set contains four sheets: sales value, sales quantity, the quantity of inventory
on hand, and the quantity purchased. You should use all sheets in your calculations, but may need to
restructure some data on a separate calculation sheet to ensure data is in the format you need.
Instructions on how to build a complex interactive scorecard have been published in different journals
such as the Journal of Accountancy
(http://www.journalofaccountancy.com/issues/2011/feb/20092427.html), but you do not have to
build such a complex system if your spreadsheeting skills are not well developed.
The table below contrasts two different approaches. The example on the left shows 7 ratios in a non-
interactive dashboard, with three graphs and one table of numbers. It is clearly not an inventory
management dashboard, but if the design features included were tailored to the inventory
management context, it would likely earn a pass (providing instructions, the input sheet, and the
calculations sheet are acceptable).
The example on the right, however, is from the Dashboard your Scorecard article. It is also not an
inventory management dashboard and does not show ratios, and so is not acceptable, but illustrates
elements that will earn higher marks:
It is interactive (note the drop-down box in the bottom right graph to select the person shown);
It uses conditional formatting icons (arrows) in the top right table to indicate the direction of
change and so makes the data easier to digest at a glance;
It uses spark lines (within cell graphs) in the top right table to show historical changes.

1
 Scott
Edwards Allen Analysis of Sales Trends
14% Pearson
28% Prior
Mary
Daniel
Year Current Percent Year-to-Date Dollar
13% Representative Units Year Units Change Sales
Allen Pearson 924 942 2%
Janet Sellers 1,053 1,015 -4%
Mark Mark Stevens 481 522 8%
Stevens Mary Daniel 521 464 -12%
Janet
15%
Sellers Scott Edwards 452 466 3%
30%

Scott Edwards
350
Mary Daniel 300
Mark Stevens 250
Unit 200
Janet Sellers Sales 150
(000s)
100
Allen Pearson
50
- 500 1,000 1,500 -
New Red River Southern Waverly White
Unit Sales (000s)
England Classic Magic Charm Pine
Commercial Government Residential Brick Styles

Pass High distinction

Learning objectives assessed:

The purpose of this assignment is to give you practice in designing and developing a reporting system
using good spreadsheet design practice. Some independent research will be required to find out how
to construct the elements of the report, particularly if you are attempting the high distinction
requirements.
In terms of the learning outcomes shown in the unit guide, this assessment task tests your achievement
of objective 4, synthesise design principles to develop financial models that assist in decision making,
and objective 5, apply critical thinking, problem solving and communication skills to analyse, evaluate
and interpret business processes and the accounting data that is generated.
In terms of the unit content, this assignment is based on a set of practice guidelines that are used
widely, usually referred to as the COSO ERM framework, and shown below. This assignment focuses
on the bottom two elements:
Information and communication: What
information is needed, and how should it be
communicated?
Monitoring: How will you monitor what is
happening?

2
Marks
Criteria for marking: This assignment is worth 15% of your total marks. You will be assessed for the
quality of your instructions on how to use the spreadsheet, the amount of analysis performed, and the
usefulness and attractiveness of the output.

Mark breakdown per task

Task Marks
A (instruction sheets) 3
B (data input sheet) 3
C (calculations) 2
D (report) 7
Total 15

Required
a) Prepare an instruction sheet that explains how to use your spreadsheet. Instructions should be
brief. Aim for no more than 500 words.
The instruction sheet should include this information:
Your name
Purpose of spreadsheet
Description of layout
Where to enter data
Which ratios are shown and how they are calculated
A description of the information shown on the report
b) Assume that the data input sheets are imported from an Enterprise System database, and so no
manual data entry is required. Sometimes, however, the import process fails, and incorrect data
is assigned to each cell (e.g. numbers where product codes should be). To obtain a credit or above
for this part of the task, format the data input sheets (the ACC ACF 2400_s2 2017_Inventory
Statistics.xlsx file available on Moodle) to highlight invalid values.
c) Construct the data processing (calculation) sheet or sheets (see marking rubric for more details).
d) Construct an attractive report sheet (see marking rubric for more details)

Submission:
Submission is via Moodle on Sunday 10 September 11.59pm

Submission format:
.xls or .xlsx spreadsheet file. Assume that your tutor only has access to Microsoft Excel. You may develop
your solution using another program, such as Open Office Calc, Google Sheets, Numbers, and so on,
but must save and submit your work as an Excel sheet.

Word limit:
Instruction sheet: No more than 500 words.

3
Resources:
The assignment is designed to be completed using Microsoft Excel, which is available in the computer
laboratories. It can potentially also be completed using other spreadsheet platforms, such as Google
Sheets or Open Office Calc; however, most of the teaching staff are only familiar with Excel and so may
not be able to provide any meaningful assistance if you choose to attempt the assignment using a
competing product.

A considerable amount of information about each command you are asked to use is available on the
unit Moodle site and the Internet. For example, a simple Google search generated these results:
Conditional formatting: 514,000 results for Excel, 64,900 results for Google sheets
Conditional formatting icons: 50,800 results for Excel, feature not supported in Google Sheets
and so has to be implemented via nested IFs or category-based lookup functions (e.g. LOOKUP,
VLOOKUP, MATCH)
Conditional formatting colour scales: 127,000 results for Excel, 2,210 results for Google Sheets
Slicer: 408,000 results for Excel, feature not available in Google Sheets
Excel Form controls/Active X controls: 160,000,000 results (a very popular topic)
Note: Excels form controls are available on the Developer tab, which is hidden until you right
click on the top menu, select Customize the Ribbon, and the check the Developer option.
Google sheets form controls/drop down lists: 79,000 results (limited functionality, but can be
implemented with some effort)
Spark lines: 307,000 results for Excel, 13,400 results for Google Sheets

This is a major assignment in which you are expected to put in a substantial amount of work to obtain
higher grades. However, you could ask your tutor or one of the lecturers for some guidance about
these commands. Although we recognise that some commands can be a little bit difficult to implement,
you have access to plenty of resources such as learning materials and other web sources (as indicated
above). Conditional formatting icons, in particular, are not easy to customise. Do not expect teaching
staff to give you the answer directly, but we will try to help you to work out why your model is not
working properly. Teaching staff will not be impressed if you ask a basic question, such as What is
conditional formatting? or Where can I find form controls in the menu?. That type of question
suggests a lazy intellectual approach that is not consistent with university-level study.

4
Marking Rubric for Spreadsheet

High Distinction Distinction Credit Pass Unsatisfactory (Fail)

Instructions Basic requirements:
Shows
Author
Purpose of spreadsheet
Description of layout
Where/how to enter data
Formula for each ratio
used
Examples of special
features in report (e.g.
conditional formatting)
All basic requirements, All basic requirements but Meets basic requirements, Does not meet basic
but few errors. some errors. but some elements were requirements.
not explained well.
Instructions mostly clear, Instructions could be Instructions missing or hard
and suitable for clearer, but the Should not be distributed to understand.
distribution to a instructions are usable. without editing. E.g. some
professional audience. poor grammar, structure of Document contains many
Examples provided for workbook or some variable errors.
Examples provided for all some, but not all, special definitions not explained
features, but few features (e.g. conditional well. Cannot be distributed to a
problems to understand. formatting) professional audience.

High Distinction
Professional quality.
Concise, but well-
explained.
Error free (e.g.
grammatical mistakes).
Structure of the
spreadsheet is very clear.
Clear examples of special
features, such as slicers,
provided.

5
 High Distinction Distinction Credit Pass Unsatisfactory (Fail)
2 different rules to This is an advanced task
Input 3 different rules to One rule to highlight Input sheets are
highlight invalid data for students attempting
highlight invalid data on invalid data, OR essentially the same as
on all four input to obtain an overall
all four input sheets. 2 rules, but not all input sheets downloaded.
sheets, OR grade of more than
sheets or not all data
Each rule must apply to 3 rules but not all input pass.
cells are covered.
multiple cells, and overall, sheets or not all data
all data cells must be cells are covered.
tested (e.g. you could test
whether cells contain the
correct data type or that
numbers are not too high
or low.
In Excel, this can be done
via the Data Validation
command with the circle
invalid data option
enabled, or via
conditional formatting.
Google Sheets does not
have a circle invalid data
option, so you have to
use conditional
formatting.
Note that this is a
challenging task that may
require a formula-based
rule to highlight cells that
contain numbers instead
of text.

6
 High Distinction Distinction Credit Pass Unsatisfactory (Fail)
Calculations Separate calculation Separate calculation Separate calculation Some data on No calculation sheets
sheet(s) sheet(s) calculations sheet is added.
sheet(s)
Values are from Values are from hard-coded (not from
Values are from formulas
formulas or pivot formulas or pivot tables, formulas or pivot
or pivot tables, not hard-
tables, not hard-coded not hard-coded tables).
coded including full use of
including full use of including some use of
absolute and relative
absolute and relative absolute and relative
references (whenever
references (whenever references (whenever
necessary).
necessary). necessary).
Compulsory ratios (2) are
One of the compulsory
calculated correctly.
ratios is calculated
correctly.

7
 High Distinction
Meets Pass
Report Meets Pass requirements
Creative and attractive
Creative and attractive Creative and attractive
dashboard design that is
also functional (e.g. dont
use exotic and hard-to- Plus 2 of the 3 High
interpret designs, such as
3D charts unless you have
a reason).
Plus the following 3
requirements:
One graph or table is
interactive. Use a slicer,
a form control, an
Active-X control, or
similar. A pivot table on
its own is not sufficiently
interactive.
Spark lines in a table
Icons or a colour scale
from conditional
formatting used in a
table. The icons or
colours must be
explained within the
dashboard.
Distinction Credit Pass Unsatisfactory (Fail)
Meets Pass
Dashboard fits within a Does not meet basic
requirements requirements.
widescreen display (Pass) requirements
with a 1440 x 900 (e.g. less than 3 ratios
dashboard design dashboard design. resolution shown, too large, not
Plus 1 of the 3 High Four (4) or more ratios enough graphs/tables,
Distinction Distinction including sales growth or report based on hard
requirements requirements ratio and inventory coded numbers.
(interactive, spark (interactive pivot table, turnover ratio (these
lines, conditional spark lines, conditional two ratios are
formatting). formatting) compulsory). You have
to choose the other 2
(or more) additional
ratios
1-3 graphs and 1-2
tables, but no more
than 4 graphs/tables
Reports based on
calculations, not hard
coded numbers.
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