#manipulation matrix

“Data does not lie”

Sometimes I hear this comment in meetings. It makes me cringe, because data itself is not yet proof of anything. Data tells one part, but..

Every chart is a manipulation of sorts. When you create a chart from your data, you have to make a decision about the various ways you are portraying your data. Some of the decisions you need to make:

-Range

-Space

-Color

-Form

-Text

-Marks

-Conventions

The following two charts have the same data but quite different visualization:

More misleading charts can be found here.

Data itself is the same, but how data is represented is vastly different. The one on top takes liberties with range, uses color to make the point. Numbers itself are right but the presentation is not really following the best practices.

Scott Berinato, senior editor for Harvard Business Review, shared his manipulation matrix that is useful when you analyze the motives behind a chart (X-axis is Intentions from bad to good, and y-axis Execution from bad to good)

The Manipulation Matrix

I offer a simple decision support tool for entrepreneurs, employees, and investors to be used long before product is shipped or code is written; even before customer development has begun. The Manipulation Matrix does not try and answer which businesses are moral or which will succeed. Nor does it describe what can and cannot become a habit-forming technology. The matrix seeks to help you answer not, “Can I hook users?” but “Should I attempt to?”

To use the Manipulation Matrix, the maker needs to ask two questions. First, “Will I use the product myself?” and second, “Will the product help users materially improve their lives?”

The Facilitator

The Peddler

The Entertainer

The Dealer