Guidelines for Data Visualization and Analysis Project

About the Project:

In this project, you will be working with a dataset from the Superstore, aiming to answer 30
scenario-based questions through data visualisation and analysis. Your objective is to select
the best chart for each question, explain your choice. This project will showcase your
proficiency in data visualisation, critical thinking, and effective communication.

Skills Required:

● Proficiency in data visualisation concepts and techniques.

● Familiarity with Tableau or a similar data visualisation tool.
● Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
● Ability to choose appropriate charts based on data characteristics and question
requirements.
● Clear and concise communication skills.

Deliverables:

● A Google document containing solutions to the scenario based questions including

the screenshot of relevant chart picked for each scenario, presented in a concise and
well-structured format. Make sure to provide explanations that highlight your
problem-solving skills.

Rubrics for Assessment:

Question Responses:
● Accuracy and completeness of answers for all 30 questions.
● Clear and concise explanations that address the question's context.
Chart Selection and Explanation:
● Thoughtful rationale for choosing specific chart types.
● Justification based on data characteristics, context, and communication goals.
Creative Enhancements:
● Effective use of creative elements to enhance visualisation quality.
● Enhancements that contribute to better understanding or engagement.

Note:
● Duplicate this document and proceed to write your solutions.
● For each scenario and question, provide a justification for the choice of chart type.
Explain why it is the best option to visualise the data effectively.
● Attach screenshots of the charts you have created in Tableau for each scenario and
question using the Superstore dataset. Label them clearly to match the
corresponding questions in the Google Document.
● Submit the duplicated google doc file after completion.
Use these guidelines to structure your data visualisation and analysis project. Remember to
maintain consistency in your responses, explanations, and visualisation styles. This project
will not only demonstrate your skills but also your ability to effectively communicate complex
information through visualisations. Good luck!

Problem Statement: Choose the Best chart for any 30 scenario based
questions from Superstore Dataset.

Imagine you are a data enthusiast aiming to excel in data visualisation and analysis. In this
task, you have been given any 30 scenario-based questions derived from the Superstore
dataset, and your objective is to provide insightful answers using appropriate charts. For
each question, you need to select a chart that best represents the data, explain why you
chose that specific chart, and then proceed to build the chosen chart using Tableau.

Your responses should be succinct, organised, and illustrative of your problem-solving

capabilities.

Dataset Link:

https://community.tableau.com/s/question/0D54T00000CWeX8SAL/sample-superstore-
sales-excelxls

Please keep in mind:

1. Answer Completion: Ensure that you furnish answers for all any 30 questions and
build charts for them.
2. Encouraged Creativity: Don't hesitate to employ visuals, creative elements, or any
other innovative approaches to enhance the quality of your responses.

By completing this task effectively, you'll not only demonstrate your proficiency in data
visualisation and analysis but also showcase your ability to effectively communicate complex
concepts through both text and charts.

Good luck!
Questions:

1. Which product categories have the highest total sales in the "Superstore" dataset?

● I'm choosing a bar plot for easy understanding and to identify the best solutions for
customers. The highest-selling technology category has total sales of 839,893, while
the lowest-selling category is office supplies with total sales of 731,893.

2. How do the monthly sales amounts change over the course of a year?
● I am choosing a line plot because it visually represents the trend over time, making it
easy to understand. In 2020, February had the highest sales at 4,520, and the
maximum sales occurred in September at 82,670. In 2021, February had sales of
11951, and the highest sales were in November at 75973. In 2022, January had sales
of 18830, and the maximum sales were in December at 97502. Finally, in 2023,
February had sales of 20301, and the highest sales were in November at 118455.

3. How is the total sales amount distributed among different product categories?
● I chose a pie plot to visually represent the distribution of the total sales amount among
different product categories. In this plot, it's evident that the highest sales are
attributed to the "Technology" category, while the "Office Supplies" category has the
lowest sales. This visualisation effectively conveys the proportion of sales each
category contributes to the overall total, helping stakeholders quickly grasp how the
sales amount is distributed among the product categories, aiding in decision-making
and resource allocation for the business.

4. How does the performance of employees vary within each department across different
regions?
● I chose a treemap to analyze employee performance within each department across
various regions. The treemap illustrates that the Consumer department in the West
region contributed the most, with 57,710 units, while the Home Supplies department
in the South had the lowest contribution, with only 4,621 units. This visualization
helps identify performance disparities among departments and regions, aiding in
strategic decision-making.

5. How do sales vary based on different days of the week and product categories?
● Sales data analysis using a line chart reveals interesting patterns. Among product
categories, Furniture sales are lowest on Wednesdays at 61,208, followed by Office
Supplies at 63,992, and Technology at 83,252. Conversely, Furniture sales peak on
Mondays at 149,369, Technology on Saturdays at 156,210, and Office Supplies on
Saturdays as well, with 124,737. This visualization helps identify weekly sales trends
by product category, aiding in strategic decision-making.

6. Can we visualise the sales growth of different product categories over time?
● A line chart is a suitable choice for visualizing sales growth over time for various
product categories. In this plot, I've segmented the data into subcategories. Notably,
Fasteners show the lowest growth, while Phone Chair and Other Stuff exhibit the
highest growth rates. This visual representation enables us to track the sales trajectory
of different product categories, aiding in identifying trends and making informed
business decisions.

7. How does the sales distribution vary across different regions in the "Superstore"
dataset?
The sales distribution across different regions in the "Superstore" dataset can be visualised
using a map plot. In this representation, the West region shows the highest sales at $739,814,
indicating significant growth. In contrast, the South region exhibits the lowest sales at
$391,722, signifying comparatively minimal growth in Superstore product sales across that
area.
 8. Can we visualise the composition of profits across various subcategories within
different customer segments?

I can visualize the composition of profits across various subcategories within different
customer segments using a bar plot. In this plot, it's easy to discern which product
subcategories yield the most profit in customer segmentation. For instance, in this superstore
data, "Copiers" generate the highest profit of $56,094, while "Tables" have a negative profit
of -$17,753, indicating a loss in this subcategory.

9. What is the percentage contribution of each region to the overall sales?

To illustrate the percentage contribution of each region to overall sales, a pie plot is selected.
In this plot, the West region stands out as the highest contributor with 31.80% of total sales,
while the South region has the lowest contribution at 16.84%. This visual representation
effectively conveys the sales distribution across different regions.

10. Can we visualise the profit margins associated with different shipping modes and
customer segments?
I can visualize profit margins associated with different shipping modes and customer
segments using a column chart. This chart reveals that the "Consumer" segment has the
highest profit margins, particularly with "Standard Days" shipping mode. Conversely, "Same
Day" shipping shows the lowest margins across all customer segments. Among shipping
modes, "Corporate" customers prefer "Standard Class" the most, while "Same Day" is the
least preferred, with "Home Appliance" products having similar preferences in the
"Corporate" segment.

11. How long does it take to process orders for different product categories?
I can use a bar plot to visualize the time it takes to process orders for different product
categories. In the plot, it's evident that "Furniture" products have the longest processing time,
with "Standard Class" taking the most time, while "Same Day" is the quickest. "Office
Supplies" and "Technology" categories show similar processing times, mirroring the pattern
observed in the "Furniture" category.

12. How does the performance of different salespeople compare in terms of sales targets,
actual sales, and profitability?
A symbol map of the sales data shows that the salesperson in California is performing the
best, with the highest profitability and sales. The salesperson in Ohio is performing the worst,
with the lowest profitability and sales. This suggests that there is a significant difference in
performance between different salespeople.

13. Can we visualise the relationship between product sales and profitability for different
product categories?
14. What is the distribution of order quantities for products in the dataset?
 Certainly, a column chart is a suitable choice for visualizing the time it takes to process
orders for different product categories. In this chart, we can observe the distribution of order
quantities across categories. For instance, "Office Supplies" has the highest order count at
232,68, while "Technology" products have the lowest order count at 7,017, providing a clear
comparison of order processing times across product categories.

15. How do the profit distributions vary across different product categories?
A bar chart, is an effective choice for visualizing variations in profit distributions across
different product categories. In this plot, it's evident that "Technology" products have the
highest profit contribution at $146,543, followed by "Office Supplies" at $126,023.
Conversely, "Furniture" has the lowest profit contribution, with only $17,730 in profit
distribution, showcasing the disparities in profitability among product categories.

16. Can we compare the shipping time distributions for different shipping modes?
A column chart is an effective choice to compare shipping time distributions for different
shipping modes. It shows that "Standard Class" is the most preferred shipping mode, while
"Same Day" is the least preferred. Additionally, it's notable that "Same Day" shipping is
mainly associated with offline store orders, indicating longer processing times compared to
other modes.

17. What is the monthly trend in the number of orders shipped?

18. How do different customer segments perform in terms of sales and discount rates?
A bar plot is an ideal choice to visualize the performance of different customer segments in
terms of sales and discount rates. In this plot, it's evident that the "Consumer" segment
receives the highest discounts at 832.3, followed by the "Corporate" segment at 483.5. The
"Home Office" segment receives the lowest discounts at 269.1, providing a clear comparison
of sales and discount rates across customer segments.

19. How efficiently are different product subcategories being fulfilled in terms of order
processing time and on-time delivery?
20. What is the average delivery duration for different regions and ship modes?

21. How has the average order quantity changed over the years for various product
categories?
22. Can we visualise the correlation between discount rates and order quantities for
different customer segments?

23. What is the trend of returns and refunds across different regions and product
categories?
24. How do the sales of high-profit products compare with low-profit products over time?

25. Which shipping mode is the most commonly used in the Sample Superstore dataset?
 A column plot is an appropriate choice to visualize the most commonly used shipping
mode in the Sample Superstore dataset. It's evident that the "Standard Class" shipping
mode is the most commonly preferred choice, with 6,120 instances, while "Same
Day" shipping mode is the least common, with only 547 instances, indicating a clear
preference for standard shipping among customers.

26. How does the sales performance of different regions evolve throughout the quarters of
a year?

27. What is the distribution of order priorities across different product categories?
28. Can we visualise the sales conversion rates for different marketing channels and
customer segments?

29. How does the average order value differ between repeat customers and new
customers?
30. What is the geographical distribution of returns and its impact on overall profitability?