Data presentation architecture (DPA) is a skill-set that seeks to identify, locate, manipulate, format and present data in such a way as to optimally communicate meaning and proffer knowledge.

Origin and context

Historically, the term data presentation architecture is attributed to Kelly Lautt and originated specifically within the context of Business Intelligence: "Data Presentation Architecture (DPA) is a rarely applied skill set critical for the success and value of Business Intelligence. Data presentation architecture weds the science of numbers, data and statistics in discovering valuable information from data and making it usable, relevant and actionable with the arts of data visualization, communications, organizational psychology and change management in order to provide business intelligence solutions with the data scope, delivery timing, format and visualizations that will most effectively support and drive operational, tactical and strategic behaviour toward understood business (or organizational) goals. DPA is neither an IT nor a business skill set but exists as a separate field of expertise. Often confused with data visualization, data presentation architecture is a much broader skill set that includes determining what data on what schedule and in what exact format is to be presented, not just the best way to present data that has already been chosen (which is data visualization). Data visualization skills are one element of DPA."

Objectives

DPA has two main objectives:

• To use data to provide knowledge in the most effective manner possible (provide relevant, timely and complete data to each audience member in a clear and understandable manner that conveys important meaning, is actionable and can affect understanding, behavior and decisions)
• To use data to provide knowledge in the most efficient manner possible (minimize noise, complexity, and unnecessary data or detail given each audience's needs and roles)

Scope

With the above objectives in mind, the actual work of data presentation architecture consists of:

• Defining important meaning (relevant knowledge) that is needed by each audience member in each context
• Finding the right data (subject area, historical reach, breadth, level of detail, etc.)
• Determining the required periodicity of data updates (the currency of the data)
• Determining the right timing for data presentation (when and how often the user needs to see the data)
• Utilizing appropriate analysis, grouping, visualization, and other presentation formats
• Creating effective delivery mechanisms for each audience member depending on their role, tasks, locations and access to technology

Related fields

DPA work has some commonalities with several other fields, including:

• Business analysis in determining business goals, collecting requirements, mapping processes.
• Solution architecture in determining the optimal detailed solution, including the scope of data to include, given the business goals
• Business process improvement in that its goal is to improve and streamline actions and decisions in furtherance of business goals
• Statistical analysis or data analysis in that it creates information and knowledge out of data
• Data visualization in that it uses well-established theories of visualization to add or highlight meaning or importance in data presentation.
• Information architecture, but information architecture's focus is on unstructured data and therefore excludes both analysis (in the statistical/data sense) and direct transformation of the actual content (data, for DPA) into new entities and combinations.
• Graphic or user design: As the term DPA is used, it falls just short of design in that it does not consider such detail as colour palates, styling, branding and other aesthetic concerns, unless these design elements are specifically required or beneficial for communication of meaning, impact, severity or other information of business value. For example:
  • choosing to provide a specific colour in graphical elements that represent data of specific meaning or concern is part of the DPA skill-set
  • choosing locations for various data presentation elements on a presentation page (such as in a company portal, in a report or on a web page) in order to convey hierarchy, priority, importance or a rational progression for the user is part of the DPA skill-set.

See also

• business analysis
  Business Analysis
  Business analysis is the discipline of identifying business needs and determining solutions to business problems. Solutions often include a systems development component, but may also consist of process improvement, organizational change or strategic planning and policy development...
  
  
• business intelligence
  Business intelligence
  Business intelligence mainly refers to computer-based techniques used in identifying, extracting, and analyzing business data, such as sales revenue by products and/or departments, or by associated costs and incomes....
  
  
• data analysis
  Data analysis
  Analysis of data is a process of inspecting, cleaning, transforming, and modeling data with the goal of highlighting useful information, suggesting conclusions, and supporting decision making...
  
  
• statistical analysis
• data warehouse
  Data warehouse
  In computing, a data warehouse is a database used for reporting and analysis. The data stored in the warehouse is uploaded from the operational systems. The data may pass through an operational data store for additional operations before it is used in the DW for reporting.A data warehouse...
  
  
• data profiling
  Data profiling
  Data profiling is the process of examining the data available in an existing data source and collecting statistics and information about that data...
  
  
• analytics
  Analytics
  Analytics is the application of computer technology, operational research, and statistics to solve problems in business and industry. Analytics is carried out within an information system: while, in the past, statistics and mathematics could be studied without computers and software, analytics has...
  
  
• corporate performance management
• information architecture
  Information Architecture
  Information architecture is the art of expressing a model or concept of information used in activities that require explicit details of complex systems. Among these activities are library systems, Content Management Systems, web development, user interactions, database development, programming,...
  
  
• data visualization
  Data visualization
  Data visualization is the study of the visual representation of data, meaning "information that has been abstracted in some schematic form, including attributes or variables for the units of information"....
  
  
• Information graphics
  Information graphics
  Information graphics or infographics are graphic visual representations of information, data or knowledge. These graphics present complex information quickly and clearly, such as in signs, maps, journalism, technical writing, and education...
  
  
• Information visualization
  Information visualization
  Information visualization is the interdisciplinary study of "the visual representation of large-scale collections of non-numerical information, such as files and lines of code in software systems, library and bibliographic databases, networks of relations on the internet, and so forth".- Overview...
  
  
• scientific visualization
  Scientific visualization
  Scientific visualization is an interdisciplinary branch of science according to Friendly "primarily concerned with the visualization of three-dimensional phenomena , where the emphasis is on realistic renderings of volumes, surfaces, illumination sources, and so forth, perhaps...
  
  
• statistical graphics
  Statistical graphics
  Statistical graphics, also known as graphical techniques, are information graphics in the field of statistics used to visualize quantitative data.- Overview :...
  
  
• interaction techniques
• interaction design
  Interaction design
  In design, human–computer interaction, and software development, interaction design, often abbreviated IxD, is "the practice of designing interactive digital products, environments, systems, and services." Like many other design fields interaction design also has an interest in form but its main...
  
  
• visual analytics
  Visual analytics
  Visual analytics is an outgrowth of the fields information visualization and scientific visualization, that focuses on analytical reasoning facilitated by interactive visual interfaces...
  
  
• balanced scorecard
  Balanced scorecard
  The Balanced Scorecard is a strategic performance management tool - a semi-standard structured report, supported by proven design methods and automation tools, that can be used by managers to keep track of the execution of activities by the staff within their control and to monitor the...