GRAPHICAL DISPLAY OF AGGREGATE INFORMATION OF A COUNTRY
Modern democracies deal with one of the greatest challenges to their own survival – the torrent of information produced from data, not always clear and objective.
The many existing sources of information and the proliferation of the conclusions obtained lead us to believe that we face one of the greatest challenges in the construction of decision support systems.
When such decisions are taken on the social level, in choosing the best solutions in an electoral and democratic system to supporting the organization of a country, literacy and the readability of such information by the common user is a central element.
We produce and store data, and then?
Today’s society is characterized by the high capacity to produce and store data. However, this growing capacity does not translate into an increase in their use for the production of information.
On the other hand, there are several NGOs, Non-Governmental Organizations that produce a large amount of information that, although very relevant, does not reach the public domain.
Whether by poor disclosure, lack of treatment or poorly designed interfaces there are huge volumes of data that do not reach citizens who helped finance the creation of this same information.
In this way, it is pertinent to determine the extent to which the current state of information availability and its visualization, especially in graphic form, can be used both as a means of consolidating knowledge and as a support for decision.
Is it possible to create decision support systems supported by objective data, even for the common use of the information produced?
On the practical side, and particularly in societies of a democratic nature and supported by voters’ decisions, we can present some approaches of analytical representation of relevant information.
In particular, we can make available, using SAP BusinessObjects tools, graphical interfaces that help to transform this data into useful information and thus support the decisions to be taken, for example, by voters, in processes of democratic choice.
Decision Support Systems (DSS) developed in this context can help decision making – whether by the voter or other economic or social actors for whom the statistical indicators of the economies or countries are relevant, and can, of course, be translatable from the current and understandable literacy of such economic and social agents.
Moreover, as we know, the current social, political and economic context has become increasingly complex, and our ability to assimilate the information that comes through the media is limited. Even for ‘informed’ decision makers, the sources of information are multiple and some are more reliable than others.
Can we resolve this challenge?
We have at least been able to contribute to the construction of a solution with the use of information visualization and analytical visualization, in particular with regard to the way in which large amounts of information are approached.
In essence, it is a question of ensuring a faster assimilation of content, dealing best with the torrent of information and finding mechanisms to transmit it in an objective, intuitive and perceptible way.
A challenge, without a doubt.
Using, for example, EuroStat information, as a credible institution and sole provider of statistics at European level, it may be possible to convey the necessary and essential objectivity and credibility. These data can be a starting point for the creation of a Decision Support System.
Create a Dashboard to help clarify the situation of a country in the Social, Educational and Developmental, Economic and Financial aspects, and do so in a clear way.
It is about allowing the user to “discover” the information by himself or to be able to access the information in a mobile way, having a general idea of the educational, social, economic and financial situation of a country.
It is intended to arouse curiosity. Want to investigate and learn more. And that this information, once observed and internalized, manages the knowledge in order to make more conscious and informed decisions.