Synopsis
Meaningful Graphs is a concise and practical go-to guide for creating charts in Excel ® that clearly and accurately tell the story in your data. It incorporates (a) explanations of the graph design principles of the experts (Tufte, Few, Robbins, Zelazny, and others), (b) the software steps necessary to incorporate these principles into Excel ® charts, and (c) chart-related discussions of quality improvement (including Pareto charts), statistics (including run charts and correlations), and the use of graphs in PowerPoint ® presentations (including chart animation). Also included are numerous "Tips" and "In Practice" examples drawn from over 35 years of working with data in healthcare settings. Coverage begins with highlighting the importance of knowing the story in your data and general principles of chart design (e.g., chartjunk, the use of color, consideration of three dimensional charts) and then proceeds to examine and create the five major chart types (column, bar, line, pie, scatter). This is followed by considerations of the pros and cons of each of the six less frequently employed chart types. There are over 120 graphs in full color plus tables and illustrations. Discussions of the most useful chart types include examples with accompanying data to facilitate practice. While illustrations are especially tailored for healthcare professionals (physicians, nurses, patient safety, quality improvement staff, executives, and managers) both in their work setting and in their academic preparation, the principles of graph design and the Excel ® techniques required to incorporate these principles apply equally well in other settings. The latter include other industries and academic programs, including those leading to degrees in business administration (MBA), public health (MPH), and public administration (MPA). If you follow the advice in this book, the graphs you create for reports, presentations, posters, or publications will be more informative and more easily understood.
Review
"Dr. Smith's book, Meaningful Graphs, is a terrific resource for clinical, quality, and other healthcare professionals who have responsibility for presenting data as a component of their professional activities....Now his expertise is available to all of us in this terrific reference guide, written in a conversational tone, for novice as well as more experienced Excel user. Meaningful Graphs is like having a wise colleague at your side helping you to create effective graphs." Jonathan B. Perlin, MD, PhD, MSHA, FACP, FACMI, former Under Secretary of Health, US Department of Veterans Affairs
"Meaningful Graphs is an important and valuable book for all who are leading a Lean or continuous improvement transformation in hospitals, or any industry...I highly recommend this book for its insight as well as its practical tips for using Excel, a tool we all have, to help you create meaningful graphs as part of your meaningful work." Mark Graban, Author of Lean Hospitals and co-author of Healthcare Kaizen
"There are so many good things in this book that it would be impractical to list them all. Suffice it to say that if you want to create charts and have Excel phobia or if you've got the data but you are failing to get your point across, this book is written for you." Mike Davidge, Director, NHS Elect, part of the National Health Service, London, England
"As a lifelong health educator, this book is one of the best educational tools I have ever encountered. It is an outstanding aide to people (especially health care professionals) interested in using Excel graphs in reports and presentations. The text and graphs are very clearly presented, the Tips and How To sections are extremely useful, and the myriad health care examples effectively complete the task of tying theory to practice." Jules M. Ranz, MD, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Director, Public Psychiatry Fellowship, NYS Psychiatric Institute/Columbia University Medical Center
"Meaningful Graphs offers what most books do not: it cuts clear to the chase on what you need to do to create Excel charts that tell your story. It also includes user-friendly discussions of quality improvement and statistics as they relate to charts, and touches on PowerPoint techniques including chart animation. A must read for anyone who wants to master Excel charts, starting at the most basic level." Linda Demke, PhD, RN, Day 1 Mental Health-Founder; Manager of Nursing Research, Medical City, Dallas, Texas
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