Principles and processes of making reports and their verification in the selected reporting tools

The diploma thesis covers the principles of dashboard or report design. The first part of thesis is focused on introduction to the issue of reporting, based on current literature. There are the definitions of basic terms, position of reporting in corporate structure, history and basic division in this part. Further, this thesis is focused on information design. There are descriptions of basic visualization elements commonly used in reporting, after that the issue of using colours and finally the information about the appropriate distribution of these elements on the surface of the dashboard or report. In the practical part of the thesis, there is primarily created the methodology of comparison of reporting tools. The goal of this methodology is to compare two specific tools for obtaining information about the qualities of compared reporting tools. As a part of this methodology, there is also a list of required functions and also a few user criteria which are assessed based on the practical use of these tools during creation of specific dashboard. Complex design of this sample dashboard is also part of the methodology. Methodology was proved by its application to two compared tools, namely the SAP Crystal Reports 2011 and Tableau Desktop 8.1. Result of this comparison contained a lot of information about the tools which can be used by reader as a basis for creation his or her own opinion on the tools. Author stated his own recommendation which of the compared tools he would choose for future work in dashboard design.