MODULE 5 · LESSON 5.1
Introduction to Power BI
Estimated time: 20 minutes
ON THE BOARD · Module 5 summary
A dashboard starts with data that is ready to plot over time.
- 1. A dashboard starts with data that is ready to plot over time.
- 2. Calculate a rate so that a zero denominator does not break the figure.
- 3. Show what fell or rose. Do not claim the cause.
- 4. Excel can answer the same questions if Power BI is not available.
MODULE SUMMARY
Module 5 summary
A dashboard starts with data that is ready to plot over time.
Calculate a rate so that a zero denominator does not break the figure.
Show what fell or rose. Do not claim the cause.
Excel can answer the same questions if Power BI is not available.
The board writes the point she is saying. It changes as the lesson moves on. Keep the sound on.
READ COMPLETE NOTES
Imagine you are working with a state health programme. Every month you receive reports from 50 health facilities about patient attendance, antenatal care, immunisation, reporting completeness and service delivery. Your manager wants to know which facilities submitted their reports, which have low reporting completeness, how service delivery changed over six months, which indicators need investigation, and what the programme team should review first.
Reading hundreds of rows can take a long time. A well-designed dashboard can present the important information clearly. That is where Microsoft Power BI becomes useful.
5.1.1 What is Power BI?
Microsoft Power BI is a business intelligence platform that helps users connect to data, prepare it, analyse it and present findings through reports and dashboards. It can also support healthcare and public health analysis.
- Compare health facility performance.
- Monitor programme indicators.
- Visualise monthly reporting completeness.
- Examine changes in service delivery.
- Present information from multiple datasets.
- Develop interactive reports for decision-makers.
5.1.2 Power BI and Excel: what is the difference?
| Feature | Excel | Power BI |
|---|---|---|
| Data entry | Suitable | Not primarily designed for this |
| Spreadsheet calculations | Strong | Supports calculations through its analytical features |
| Data cleaning | Supports many cleaning tasks | Includes data transformation capabilities |
| Charts | Yes | Yes |
| Interactive dashboards | Possible, with some limitations | A major strength |
| PivotTables | Yes | Uses other analytical and visual components |
| Connecting multiple datasets | Possible | Strong support for data modelling and multiple sources |
| Sharing reports | Through supported file and sharing options | Through supported report-sharing and publishing options |
You do not need to abandon Excel when you learn Power BI. In many workflows, Excel is used to inspect or prepare data, while Power BI is used to build and share analytical reports. The best tool depends on the task.
5.1.3 Understanding the Power BI workflow
- 1. Connect
- 2. Prepare
- 3. Model
- 4. Calculate
- 5. Build visuals
- 6. Interpret
- 7. Share
- Connect to data from a supported source, such as an Excel workbook or CSV file.
- Prepare the information: inspect it, correct formats, review missing values and clean what you can defend.
- Model data by establishing relationships between datasets where necessary.
- Create calculations to summarise data and derive indicators.
- Build charts, tables, cards and other visuals.
- Interpret what the visuals reveal and what still needs investigation.
- Share using approved methods and access controls.
5.1.4 Understanding reports and dashboards
A report can contain one or more pages of visualisations, tables and analytical summaries. A dashboard, in Power BI Service terminology, is a distinct feature that can display selected visual tiles on a single page. In everyday conversation, people also use the word dashboard more broadly to describe a one-page monitoring view.
In this course, health dashboard means a concise visual overview of important indicators, unless we are discussing a specific Power BI feature.
5.1.5 Who can use Power BI in healthcare?
- Health Information Management professionals analysing facility reports.
- M&E officers tracking programme indicators.
- Public health teams monitoring service delivery.
- NGO programme managers reviewing implementation.
- Researchers exploring patterns in datasets.
- Health administrators preparing management reports.
You do not need to be an advanced statistician to start. You do need to understand the data you are presenting.
Lesson 5.1 knowledge check
Choose an answer for each question, then check. The suggested answers stay hidden until you do.
1. What is one major use of Power BI?
2. What should happen before you build a dashboard?
3. Does Power BI replace Excel in every situation?
Power BI helps users prepare, analyse and visualise data. Its value comes from presenting reliable information clearly.