A structured approach to (Power BI) report creation
Proposed session for SQLBits 2026TL; DR
Creating actionable Power BI reports involves more than just making dashboards look good. Reports should meet user needs, support decisions, and be actionable. This session presents a structured report design approach to help you achieve these consistently.
Session Details
Creating actionable Power BI reports is more than making dashboards look good. Reports need to meet user needs, support decisions, and be actionable. This session introduces a structured approach to report design that helps you achieve these goals reliably.
You’ll learn how to break the report creation process into clear, practical steps. This includes understanding the end user, defining the purpose of the dashboard, identifying actionable insights, exploring design options, and incorporating evaluation and testing. The framework also provides guidance on communicating expectations and establishing a consistent way of working across your team.
I will show how this approach aligns reports with user goals, improves clarity, and ensures your dashboards are not only built well but actually used. Attendees will leave with practical techniques to structure their reporting process, improve collaboration, and create Power BI reports that make an impact.
You’ll learn how to break the report creation process into clear, practical steps. This includes understanding the end user, defining the purpose of the dashboard, identifying actionable insights, exploring design options, and incorporating evaluation and testing. The framework also provides guidance on communicating expectations and establishing a consistent way of working across your team.
I will show how this approach aligns reports with user goals, improves clarity, and ensures your dashboards are not only built well but actually used. Attendees will leave with practical techniques to structure their reporting process, improve collaboration, and create Power BI reports that make an impact.
3 things you'll get out of this session
Understanding how report creation can be approached in a structured way.
Insights into how a business user looks at requirements.
Getting some guidelines in how to collect requirements.
Speakers
Valerie Junk's other proposed sessions for 2026
Dashboard Design - The icing on the cake - 2026
Get Creative with Power BI: Make these core visuals shine! - 2026
My Real-Time Intelligence Journey: From Power BI Data Visualization to Streaming Data - 2026
Power BI - This is Not an Art Project - 2026
Power BI Tables and Matrix Visuals: The Next Step - 2026
Data Literacy: Navigating Your Way to Data-Driven Success! - 2026
Valerie Junk's previous sessions
Visualizing Data for Non-Data Experts: Making Reports Accessible to All
Learn how to visualize data in a way accessible to everyone, regardless of their level of expertise. In this session, you will learn to identify your audience's needs, select the appropriate visualizations for your data, and present your findings clearly and concisely.
ADHD - Failing at normal (and dealing with a mind that needs stimulation to focus)
Experience and tips and tricks on how to (better) deal with the challenges going together with ADHD. And of course, also, how to use the “positive side effects” to your advantage during your career.