Tables and Charts

Each response needs to be 150 words each.

Response 1 Caldwell

After watching all of the videos for this weeks lesson, I can say that some of it will be very new to me.  Mostly the video and audio editing features.  I have never used the tables and charts features for any of my PowerPoint presentations that I have ever done, but my work always has them in all of our QBR (Quarterly Business Review) meetings.  My work will use tables and charts to show us how we are doing each quarter compared to last quarter and at the same time last year.  They usually will display things like sales to date, productions outputs, product yields and others.  For me, looking at the charts and tables gives me the visual of how we are doing as a business rather than them just telling us a bunch of numbers that we can't compare to anything.

I think charts definitely make it easier for a company to display these complex numerical data sets.  At least for me, visuals are very important, especially in terms of seeing a lot of number comparisons.  It is also easier for the audience to ask questions because they can refer to the charts that are displayed.  

I think finding the best chart  to use really depends on what data you want to show and who your audience is.  I think keeping the charts simple is the best option.  You don't want to put in 10 data sets on a chart that is going to be displayed because it can be hard to read and follow.  I think grouping similar data sets and inputing them into more than one chart would be best.  

Quick styles can simplify the formatting process because you can hover your mouse cursor over each option and it will show you how the data will be displayed.  I think a legend should be a must in most cases unless you are doing a chart where everyone is familiar with the data and how to read the chart.  I have never created a chart or table before, but I think they are crucial that they display the right information in the right format. 

I think the audio and video editing was very interesting to me because I didn't know you could go so in depth with it.  I think I will try and use the video feature in some upcoming presentations.  I hate hearing myself speak so the audio feature would be a last option for me to use, but I do see how it can be beneficial.

Response 2 Miller

Working with tables and charts within PowerPoint slides is something that I am familiar with. Sounding like a broken record, but when I was in the military one of the sections I worked in was Procedures and Analysis. There part of my job was to review past and current procedural write-ups. Well, the base was notified there would be a major review of each squadron’s procedures. I developed for each section and the information that was identified was the number of write-ups and which category they fell in (either Major or minor). From there we would hold weekly meetings with the flight section leads and review the status of where they were and if they had “get well dates” before the inspection team came in.

The charts that I used were very simple using a pie structure identifying the areas where there were minor and major write-ups for each section and if any of these were repeats from previous major inspections. Each of the section leaders would have to explain to the flight commander where they were and what the status was. This provided an easy view of where we were as a flight and how we did as a squadron.

Unfortunately, during that time I was pretty limited to what types of designs and effects that could be utilized because when it came to the squadron slides, they all had to be aligned with how the other squadrons designed theirs. As I worked through the practice slides and this weeks assignment I wish I could have been able to provide a little more snap to the slides by using the intense style.