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Quick answers
When should I pick Work reports?
When the story is: recurring reviews, budget bridges, headcount, pipeline.
When should I avoid Work reports?
Skip it in cases like: a one-off story that needs a custom visual, or an ad that must shout.
Who invented or popularised it?
Corporate reporting culture after DuPont charts and 20th-c. board packs
What does it encode?
a small set of honest encodings repeated every cycle
Is it OK in ads?
Yes if one claim is visible at a glance in Meta, Google and retail print; otherwise link to a full figure.
Will a teacher accept it?
Yes for lab reports and poster boards if axes, units and a source line are present.
Work reports encodes values as a small set of honest encodings repeated every cycle. Corporate reporting culture after DuPont charts and 20th-c. board packs.
In reports, ads and assignments it fits recurring reviews, budget bridges, headcount, pipeline. Skip it when a one-off story that needs a custom visual, or an ad that must shout.
Use when
- Use when 1 — Use Work reports when the story is recurring reviews, budget bridges, headcount, pipeline.
- Use when 2 — Build the first draft in Excel or Google Sheets, then restyle — do not screenshot.
- Use when 3 — In PowerPoint, one Work reports per slide, claim in the title.
- Use when 4 — For lab reports and poster boards, this form works when the question is comparison or process.
- Use when 5 — In Meta, Google and retail print, keep one number visible at thumbnail size.
Avoid when
- Avoid when 1 — Skip Work reports in cases like: a one-off story that needs a custom visual, or an ad that must shout.
- Avoid when 2 — 3-D, dual axes, rainbow scales
- Avoid when 3 — Undated numbers, undated time series
- Avoid when 4 — Four charts on one slide
Audiences
- Work — PowerPoint
- Ads — Meta, Google and retail print
- School — lab reports and poster boards
Work reports: honour a small set of honest encodings repeated every cycle, and switch when a one-off story that needs a custom visual, or an ad that must shout.