What are Excel Charts?

An Excel chart is a graphical representation of data. It helps provides an opportunity to tell a compelling story to the audience through data visualization.

Data visualization helps to understand the data patterns and connections. It is important to focus on the information that matters and tell a story derived from the data.

According to Cambridge dictionary[1], a chart is a drawing that shows information in a simple way, often using lines and curves to show amounts.

Quite often we spend a lot of time on data analysis. Being able to choose the right type of chart to give a correct representation of data is equally important as doing the right analysis. If the chart type is not correct, it becomes difficult to say a convincing story.

In this article, we will discuss the different types of charts and type of data they are suitable for.

Bar Charts

A bar chart is the most commonly used chart type. As the name suggest, it is composed of a series of bars illustrating a variables development. It is easy to read and understand. A Bar chart is frequently used to compare data across time frames (like revenue/ profit increase from one time to another).

These charts are great to use when we want them to track the development of one or two variables. For example, if we want to compare the revenues vs previous year.

Limitation of Bar chart is that we cannot use it to compare more than 1 or 2 variables. If we have multiple variables on the Bar chart, it is difficult to understand the trend of the variables.

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Stacked Column Chart

A stacked column chart is most commonly used to compare data over time. In this chart, the data series is stacked on top of each other in vertical columns. Such charts are also easy to create and understand.

An example for usage of this chart is for comparing revenue contribution by segments.

The limitation of this chart is that it may appear complex and difficult to read if there are more than 4 or 5 segments or if the data series is too long.

To get over such limitation, we can also show data with 100% stacked column chart (as shown below).

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Line Chart

A line chart is a chart showing a line or multiple lines showing development of single or multiple variables over time. It allows us to track development of several variables over time in a single chart. Such charts are easy to read and understand.

Such charts are most used while comparing share price movements for multiple companies, indices etc. over both short term and long term. See Example of a line chart showing share price movement of top three Private Banks in India.

Line charts are also used by analysts to understand the correlation between two or more different variables. Like movement in Oil Prices with Oil Rig deployment or comparing base metal prices with consumption/demand etc.

Such charts are useful to analyze data for a time series. It cannot be used if we do not have data for a time series/period.

Combination Chart

Combination charts is created by combining different type of charts. Like a Combo Bar chart and a line chart . Such charts are useful when we want to analyze data trend over a time.

For example, comparing the revenue growth with margins. Such charts are useful when we want to compare data across multiple variables.

Pie Chart

A Pie chart is a circular chart showing slices (breakup) of data by proportions. The entire pie chart represents 100% of data while the slices represent proportions of data. Sum of all slices should be equal to the Total Pie (100%).

For example, if we want to see revenue contribution by different segments of a company, we can use a Pie chart. A larger Pie size for a segment means, the larger share of revenue contribution by that segment.

The limitation of using a Pie chart is that it can only be used for one single variable . We cannot use the pie chart when we have more than one variable or if we want to see change in variable from one period to the other.

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Scatter Plot

These charts are often used in field of statistics and data science. It consists of data points depicted across two variables (x-y axis).

A scatter plot chart is used when we want to see the pattern/ correlation between two variables. For example, if we want to see a correlation between Customer satisfaction index and Total revenues, we can show the correlation through a scatter plot chart.

Relationships between variables could differ by situations. For Example, it could have positive or negative correlation or have linear or non-linear correlation.

A scatter plot chart cannot be used when we don’t have 2 or more variables or when want to see the time pattern.

Waterfall Charts

A waterfall chart is a great way to show variance analysis from one point to the other. These charts help easily visualize the drivers which are responsible for the change. For Example. how the profit or revenue of a company grew from one period to the other.

We can’t use the waterfall chart for data that does not explain the drivers for change from one period to another. Therefore, if we do not have the intermediary steps or variables leading to change in performance from one period to another, we cannot use the waterfall chart.

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Tree Map Charts

A Tree map chart is not often used but is an effective chart for data visualization. It is a hierarchical chart. It is useful for visualization of data which has multiple level of segmentation. It gives a pictorial representation of how data is spread across various segments/ sub-segments. In a Tree Map, each segment is represented by a large rectangle and segments of data are represented by smaller rectangles. Tree map charts are great highlighting the contribution of each items to the whole.

A Tree Map chart cannot be used if the data set is not hierarchical meaning when data cannot be divided into segments and sub segments. It also cannot be used if we want to see the time pattern for multiple variables in a data set.

Bubble Chart

A Bubble chart is an extension of a scatter plot chart, where in addition to a scatter plot (2 dimensions represented by the x axis and y axis), the size of the bubble represents the 3rd variable.

It is often used effectively to show the performance comparison across different segments of a company or across different peers.

In the above chart, shows the performance comparison across different companies in an industry. The x-axis shows the revenue growth, the y-axis shows the margin and the size of the bubbles represent the revenues for different Companies.

A bubble chart also cannot be used when we don’t have 2 or more variables or when want to see the time pattern.

Histogram Chart

A Histogram chart is similar to a Bar Chart and is used when we want to show the frequency distribution of data. For this chart, we can group data into different bins, and we can easily summarize where the data concentration is.

This chart is very effective when we want to show the distribution of data within a range. For example, Data showing average Weight of population between in a society.

A Histogram Chart cannot be used, If the data set has multiple categories of variables.

Conclusion

While data analysis is important, the correct presentation of data is equally important. Therefore, It is necessary to choose the right type of chart for data visualization, so that we are able to say a compelling story to the audience.

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