Data Series & Benchmarking

About Data Series

A data series is a grouping of data, based on one or more filters. You can plot multiple data series in a chart for comparison or benchmarking purposes. When multiple data series is plotted in a chart, each data series is identified by a unique color.

Benchmarks give you an easy way to compare your results across departments, countries, years, and other variables, giving the context of your results and letting know where your organization stands. With data series, you create your own benchmarks, giving you full control over the benchmarking process.

For this guide, we will use an example. We have a chart based on a Matrix Rating Scale that measures employees' happiness and motivation, and we want to benchmark all the departments (Accounting, Marketing, Sales, and Development) against each other and the total.

Create Data Series

Let's get started by creating data series for each department. To create data series, you have to:

1. Go to your report and select settings in the side menu. If the menu is closed, click on the menu button () to open it first.
2. Click on data series.
3. If this is your first data series, click create data series. If it's not your first, click the add icon () and your data series will be created immediately.
4. Click on the data series and select edit.
5. You now have the following options:
   • Name: Name your data series to help those that view your report to understand its purpose.
   • Color: This is the color the data series will have in all charts.
   • Ignore all filters: Enable this setting if you want the data series to ignore the report and chart filters if any.
6. To define the content of the data series, click the add filter button.
7. Define the data series by selecting the relevant survey variable or question.
8. Define filter access, which means whether or not report readers are able to make their own selections.

   • You can allow report readers to make their own selections to the filter. For this example, the data series will be based on the department background variable. By giving readers access, they will be able to make their own selection and change between all available departments.

     1. Click yes to give readers access.
     2. Select the default filter selection and click save. Readers will be able to make their own selections, but the report defaults to your selections if the page is refreshed.

   • You can decide to restrict what you share with your readers and thus deny access for them to make their own filter selections. For this example, the data series will be based on the department background variable. By not giving readers access, they will only be able to see data from the department you choose.

     1. Click no to deny readers access.
     2. Define the filter selection and click save. Readers will not be able to edit your filter selections.
9. The filter selections will be added to your data series. You can add more until you have defined the data series you need.

For this example, we need to create 4 data series and they will be defined as follows:

Add Data Series to Charts One by One

Now that we have our data series, we are ready to add them to the relevant charts and start benchmarking. You can data series one by one, or you can add them to different charts at the same time in bulk. To add them one by one, you have to:

1. Go to your report and click on the chart's heading to open the edit chart side menu.
2. Click on settings.
3. Click on data series.
4. Click on the add data series button and select the data series you want to add. For this example, we'll choose Accounting, Marketing, Sales, and Development.
5. Click add.
6. Your data series will be added to your chart, and you'll be able to compare and benchmark your data.

Add Data Series in Bulk

Now that we have our data series, we are ready to add them to the relevant charts and start benchmarking. You can data series one by one, or you can add them to different charts at the same time in bulk. To add them in bulk, you have to:

1. Go to your report and select all the charts you want to add data series to.
2. Click on the actions menu and select edit in bulk.
3. Click on data series.
4. Select the data series you want to add. For this example, we'll choose Accounting, Marketing, Sales, and Development.
   

   If the data series setting is greyed out and thus you're unable to select it, it's because it is not possible to add data series to all the selected charts. Make sure that you are able to add data series to all selected charts before adding them in bulk.

5. Click done.
6. Your data series will be added to all the selected charts, and you'll be able to compare and benchmark your data.