Dashboards for the defense industry
Program management tracks schedule, cost and risk across many subprojects from separate reports, and off-the-shelf tools don't always fit the organization's security requirements.
▶ The solution
I build management dashboards from scratch with my own code instead of off-the-shelf BI tools. No limits on design, interaction, data sources or calculations; the dashboard is shaped exactly around what your business needs.
▶ Use case
A dashboard showing schedule, cost and risk indicators for the program and its subprojects is coded from scratch to run in an environment the organization approves.
▶ Data you need
Project management data plus cost and risk records.
The industry's data landscape
In the defense industry, programs are long, documentation-heavy and the supply chain has many tiers. Data accumulates in project management systems, technical documents, and test and quality records. Confidentiality requirements decide from the start which data can be processed where.
A custom management dashboard is a web application written from scratch around your data and your decisions. Charts, drill-downs, filters, custom calculations, role-based access, mobile views and embedding into your internal portal are designed to fit the need.
The math behind it
Correct rate = Σ numerator / Σ denominator ≠ average(numerator / denominator)
- Example: store A makes 10 sales from 100 visitors, store B 45 from 900.
- The average of the rates is 7.5%; the real conversion is 55 / 1,000 = 5.5%.
How I work
- Week 1
Decisions and users.
Who is the dashboard for, and for which decisions? Which metrics, at what level of detail, on which device? The screens are clear on paper before any building starts.
- Weeks 2–3
Data connections and calculations.
Sources are connected, metrics are calculated with one definition, and the refresh schedule is set up. This is where the numbers under the dashboard are made right.
- Weeks 3–5
Design and build.
The dashboard is built with real users in short cycles. Every cycle ends with a working version that is shaped by feedback.
- Final week
Launch and handover.
The dashboard goes live in the agreed environment and access is set up. How it works and how to update it is documented and handed to your team.
▶ Questions and answers
Dashboards for the defense industry — what data do you need?
Project management data plus cost and risk records.
When is this the wrong choice?
Your current BI tool already meets your needs. There is no point replacing a setup that works. If the tool isn't the problem, a new dashboard won't fix it. Your team wants to keep changing the dashboard itself. If a team that doesn't code wants to add new charts every week, a BI tool's self-service features may fit better.
How does this work start?
With a short intro call. I listen to what you need and tell you plainly whether your data is enough for the job and what the first step should be. I reply to every message within 24 hours.
▶ Concepts
Linked to Wikipedia and Wikidata.
▶ Sources
- [1]Wikipedia, Simpson's paradox, 2026-10. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simpson%27s_paradox
- [2]Wikipedia, Performance indicator, 2026-10. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Performance_indicator
▶ Intro call
Let's talk about your situation.
In a 30-minute call I listen to what you need and tell you plainly how I can help.
Book an intro call▶ In other industries