Visualization Challenge – Budget vs. Actual Performance

Update: Check out the results at Budget vs. Actual Charts

Here is your chance to get a copy of  The Visual Display of Quantitative Information by Edward Tufte. Interested ? Read on,

Reader Sumit writes in to ask,

I am working on creating a visualization for data attached in the excel file (see below). Since I was not sure as to what would be the best way in which this data can be presented, I thought I will ask for your assistance.

Would it be possible for you to play around with the data and share your ideas as to the best possible way to represent this data graphically.

Download the data in a CSV file

Even though I have few ideas on visualizing budget vs. actual performance, I thought this is a great way for You, my dear reader, to share your ideas.

So what are you waiting for? Go ahead and tell us how you will visualize this data. The best visualization maker will get eternal glory and a copy of The Visual Display of Quantitative Information by Edward Tufte.

Go!

For inspiration and ideas visit: Stacked Bar chart techniques, 14 ways to visualize last year vs. this year performance

Fine print:

Upload your visualizations (preferably images) to a public image hosting service like flickr or photobucket and share the URL here. Alternatively you can e-mail me your visualizations at chandoo.d @ gmail.com, but this takes some time.

Visualizations should be made in Excel or Google docs spreadsheets Only.

Each of you can submit as many alternatives as you can, but only one person gets the prize.

For logistical reasons, the book will be delivered to countries where Amazon operates, but if the winner is from other countries, we will work out something, so don’t be discouraged.

The contest is open until March 26, 2009. So hurry!