Graphs and stats for PMs

What we'll discuss

• Why we graph: Anscombe's Quartet (3 min)
• When and how to use graphs and stats (3 min)
• Examples of how to improve graphs (6 min)
• Q & A (3 min)

Learning Objectives

• The goal is to enable students to make reliable and precise assessments of data visualizations
• Given a graph, the student will be able to assess the quality and clarity of the graph
• Given an unclear graph, the student will be able to offer feedback on how to improve

Why we use stats & graphs

When?

To measure:

• Key metrics and tests
• Expected feature impact
• Roadmap projections

Why?

Metrics and graphs lead to:

• Team focus
• Achievable goals
• Stakeholder support
• More impact 

Who?

• Engineering for impact
• Design for priority 
• Data science to prototype
• Execs for impact 
• PR, marketing, sales, and legal to be informed

Where?

• Slack
• Emails
• Decks
• Demos

• Reviews 
• Scorecards
• Roadmaps 
• Physical posters

Title Text

How can we improve?

Clarify

• Descending order
• Eliminate extra labels
• Use labels over table

Title Text

How can we improve?

Clarify

• Pie charts about pie
• Eliminate labels

How to learn?

• Practice making graphs
• Look carefully at graphs you encounter in the wild
• Tufte, Nathan Yau, 538