M2_TargetedPractice_BasicCharts.pdf

Module 2 Targeted Tableau Practice:
Using Basic Charts to Perform Exploratory Analysis (100 points)

Scenario – You receive the following email from you supervisor:

Dear Favorite Analyst at TableauCeutical Inc,

A new Chief Operating Officer is starting with Tableauceutical in two weeks. I need your help to bring her up

to speed on the basics of the organization, the products we distribute, the pharmacy reps, competitors,

performance highlights, and whatever else you feel is worth noting.

Attached is an Excel file containing roughly 3 years of drug order history (Rx tab) and distribution information

(Distribution tab). This should be enough to pull together the overview we need. I am out of the office for our

sales conference and will be unavailable for the rest of the week. I trust you’ll be able to pull together

something valuable.

As you explore, please build at least 10 different visuals that highlight diverse insights across the dataset. I

would explore interesting trends, summarize categories, calculate central tendency, etc. Also, be prepared to

summarize any idiosyncrasies in the data that could negatively impact future analysis and if/how you

addressed them. Compile your analysis into a PDF that contains a snapshot of each visual with an explanation

of the chart and key insights below it. Send the PDF along with a packaged Tableau workbook that contains

one worksheet for each exploratory visual by the end of week (11:59 pm CT on Sunday).

Remember, this is an exploratory analysis; we are not concerned with camera ready visuals yet, just farming

insights. It shouldn’t take you more than 3 – 4 hours to explore the data and summarize your findings. We

will comb through your exploratory visuals and insights and begin packaging them into a PowerPoint deck for

the COO next week (Module 3).

Sincerely,

Lack of Context Leonard

Tableau Practice Assignment Objectives:

I. Demonstrate that you can connect Tableau to an Excel file

II. Demonstrate that you can perform joins two datasets together for an analysis

III. Demonstrate that you can think critically to identify questions a stakeholder might want answered to

guide your exploratory analysis

IV. Demonstrate that you can build basic charts in Tableau and explain what they communicate

V. Demonstrate that you can harvest insights from exploratory analysis and explain them in written form

Dataset to use for practice assignment (located in Canvas):

M2_PracticeChallenge_SuperDrug

Assignment Requirements

1. Set-up your Tableau workbook for analysis (5 points)

a. Connect to the M2_PracticeChallenge_SuperDrug dataset (available in Canvas)

b. Drag the Rx worksheet onto the data connection Canvas

c. Drag the Distribution worksheet onto the data connection Canvas

d. Create a relationship between the Rx worksheet and the Distribution worksheet using [Order ID]

Note – the default relationship Tableau creates is sufficient for this assignment. However, please review this link to

understand more about how Tableau handles joins. Resource: Relationships vs Joins in Tableau

e. Save your workbooks as a packaged workbook using the following file name structure:

FirstName_LastName_M2Practice_EDA

f. Take a screenshot of your join. Below it, type a single paragraph explaining how left, right, inner, and outer joins work

to combine datasets. Also explain how Unions work.

https://help.tableau.com/v2021.1/pro/desktop/en-us/datasource_relationships_learnmorepage.htm%23WhereAreJoins

2. Perform basic data-clean up and pre-formatting to simplify your analysis (5 points)
a. Change the way Tableau groups data fields in the left pane from grouping by data source to grouping by folder.

b. Change the data type for [Order ID] & [Order ID (Distribution)] fields from number to string

c. Change the default properties of the [Rx Dollars] and [Rx Profit] fields to currency with no characters after the decimal.

3. Based on the available fields identify list at least 10 questions the COO might want answered from your

exploratory analysis (20 points)

a. List the questions in a stand-alone section in your PDF

b. For each visual you end-up building, use a question as the header to summarize what the exploratory visual is

communicating.

4. Build 10+ different exploratory visuals using different variable (field) combinations and viz techniques (45 points)

a. Make sure to include at least 1 of the following chart types

i. Bar chart

ii. Stacked bar chart

iii. Line chart

iv. Scatter plot

v. Box plot

vi. Map

b. Build one chart per Tableau worksheet

c. Label the tabs with the chart type and key variable

d. If you build more than 10 charts, highlight the 10 worksheets you want reviewed by changing the tab color to red and

moving the tabs together next to the Data Source tab.

e. You can include 2 table views as part of the 10 exploratory visuals you submit as long as there is some

formatting added to the table (heat map, highlight tables, color-coded fonts, etc.).

f. Where appropriate, include reference lines to put your visual into context compared to a total, average,

median, etc.

5. Under each of the ten selected visuals, type a paragraph (3-5 sentences) explaining the visual and key

insights to be considered.

Submission Requirements

Upload the following to Canvas by 11:59 pm CT on Sunday, June 13.

1. PDF with a screenshots and paragraph summaries (3 – 5 sentences) for each of the numbered steps outlined

in Assignment Requirements section above. Above each visual, include a header of a question the COO might

have that is being answered by the visual and paragraph below. Below the question header, include a sub-

header with a chart title.

PDF File Naming Expectations: FirstName_LastName_M2Practice_EDA.pdf

Example of exploratory viz with question and chart title

2. Packaged Tableau workbook with one worksheet for each exploratory visual built. If you have more than 10

exploratory visuals, make sure to highlight, in red, the tabs of the visuals you want reviewed and group them

together next to the Data Source tab.

Tableau Workbook File Naming Expectations: FirstName_LastName_M2Practice_EDA.twbx