
overview.
This experimental user research was conducted at Tech3Lab, HEC Montréal, in collaboration with ERPsim Lab and Ontario Tech University. Using SAP Analytics Cloud and the Business Builders (Maple Heir) simulation, the study investigated how people interpret business data and make decisions in data-intensive environments.



objective.
The goal of this project was to understand how users interact with complex business dashboards with visual data. I studied how people find relevant information, interpret data, and make business decisions. My ultimate goal was to identify opportunities for improving enterprise user experiences.
method & tools used.
findings & recommendations.
The findings showed that analytical performance depends on more than a single ability. Participants with stronger visual search skills achieved greater accuracy, but they also spent more time solving the problems. Similarly, greater task complexity increased completion time without reducing accuracy, suggesting that participants often invested additional effort to maintain the quality of their decisions.
Performance was also shaped by attention, cognitive load, emotional state, and motivation. Positive emotional states were associated with better performance, while excessive perceived workload and highly focused attention reduced efficiency. Participants with a stronger motivation for effortful thinking were also better able to sustain their engagement as tasks became more demanding.
Overall, these findings show that effective analytical reasoning emerges from the interaction of perceptual, cognitive, emotional, and motivational factors.


findings & recommendations.
Good dashboard design is about supporting how people think. Clear visual hierarchy and progressive disclosure help users focus on the right information without feeling overwhelmed. By balancing attention, mental effort, and engagement, dashboards can make complex data easier to understand and business decisions more accurate.
feedback.

Pierre-Majorique Léger
Professeur Titulaire Chaire en Expérience Utilisateur Co-Fondateur et Chercheur Tech3Lab Directeur Laboratoire ERPsim Lab Chercheur IVADO








