ABSTRACT
Edward R. Tufte, a professor emeritus at Yale University and one of the world’s leading experts on the visual presentation of information, believes that the 1986 explosion of the space shuttle Challenger can be partially blamed on the poorly designed presentations to NASA officials about the potential failure of O-rings in cold weather [1-3]. Tufte felt that if the potential risk had been presented properly, decision makers would have understood the extreme risk involved and would have postponed the launch. Tufte’s perspective reflects a rational point of view that ignores the political pressures that influenced NASA’s decision to launch, but it is a critical perspective, nevertheless, and one that reflects the importance of data presentation. Every day, public administrators rely on good data to inform decisions and shape public policy. Granted, lives may not be at stake, but if the data does not tell the story it is supposed to tell, or if it is misleading, ill-informed decisions will be made. Citizens rely on data communicated by policy analysts and public administrators to inform them about the outcomes and results of policy initiatives. Information, communicated effectively, enables
citizens to engage in meaningful dialogue with their neighbors, elected officials and public administrators about the quality of public sector services.
