Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Self
actualization
Aesthetic and
cognitive needs
Esteem needs
Belongingness and love needs
Safety needs
Physiological needs
Maslow's hierarchy of needs
Figure 14.1
Maslow's pyramid maps to reporting needs.
survival, in Maslow's pyramid cash is the ultimate survival tool for a business.
Healthy organizations soon reach the second level, that is, profit, followed
by the higher levels of creativity (adjusting the business model as market
dictates), growth, and proceed to the highest level, independence.
When a business owner has met all these needs, the company will
typically find itself in a healthy position. However, problems start to occur
when an organization or business unit focuses on a higher need, such as
growth or independence, without first focusing on more basic needs, such
as cash and profit.
Because
reports are used to get the pulse of the business, it is essential
that they also reflect Maslow's Hierarchy. Management reporting should
be structured like a pyramid, with summary reports at the top going to
a few executives, while detailed operational transaction reporting goes
way down. In addition, there should be reports that cater to the needs
expressed in this hierarchy at various levels. Using this model to analyze
the report portfolio is a good design tool. Maslow's theories also apply
to human beings, and a lot of reporting about business deals with goods,
monetary transactions, and the like. One should also consider the proper
use of a powerful model like this when designing the reporting for an
organization.
