publication of the International Legal Technology Association
Issue link: https://epubs.iltanet.org/i/395170
importance of collecting and tracking key performance statistics for lawyers and staff cannot be stressed enough. But having this data is just the first step. The data also need to be frequently updated, filtered, carefully analyzed and communicated to appropriate stakeholders in a comprehensible way that results in actionable steps across entire organizations. JUST DO IT Data visualization as a means of conveying important information to target audiences has been around and proven effective for millennia. People today are more visually oriented, which makes data visualization particularly important. Many studies have been conducted that show how much more efficient and effective data visualization is, compared to speech or text alone, in delivering information in fast, understandable and memorable ways. When you consider it, pairing tracked performance data with appropriate data visualization tools and techniques is natural — a near perfect combination (right next to the Reese's Pieces). Just as the peanut butter treat appealed to E.T., this combination should appeal to any business-of-law professional. Overall, when done right, data visualization can be instrumental in providing better and faster decision- making for law firms and legal departments. DEFINING DATA VISUALIZATION Data visualization is the method of presenting data in a consolidated, accessible, comprehensible and visually pleasing way that tells a story and encourages actionable follow-up. It is good for quantitative and qualitative data alike. And it is especially useful to convey information that can get buried in text, to display patterns in data sets large and small, and as an important supplement to text or oral presentations. Common data visuals include graphs, charts, maps, diagrams, histograms, pictures, tag clouds, infographics, advanced visualizations and Jeff Dunham's puppets — just to name a few. These forms can be further subdivided into linear, planar, volumetric, multidimensional, hierarchical (and many more) categories. It all depends on how you prefer to draw the lines to carve out distinct groups from hundreds, if not thousands, of available types of visuals. Too many alternatives to choose from? You betcha! The good news is you don't have to familiarize yourself with everything that is out there. It is more important to understand, at least in general terms, what type of a visualization works with the "flavor" of data you want to present to your audience. The recipe is simple: • A bit of common sense • A dash of hands-on experience • Just enough ability to tell a good design from bad (data and graphics alike) • A basic awareness of the reasons why data visualization really works FIVE REASONS DATA VISUALIZATION WORKS 1. Visuals Make Information Comprehension Easier and Faster: Visuals are usually more concise than text, spreadsheets or data sets. They also deliver more information, at least per square inch or per average attention span. After all, as one study conducted by UCLA indicated, 93 percent of communication is nonverbal. A good example of the power of data visualization can be seen in the Anscombe's quartet, a sample created by British statistician Francis Anscombe in 1973. The sample consists of four sets of data, nearly identical in terms of words and numbers. When depicted in graphs, WWW.ILTANET.ORG 11 Data visualization is the method of presenting data in a consolidated, accessible, comprehensible and visually pleasing way that tells a story and encourages actionable follow-up. DATA VISUALIZATION FOR LEGAL: WHY YOU NEED IT AND HOW TO START