Visulaize
Develop Data Literacy Skills
Gospel Insight
When Nephi was commanded to build a ship (1 Nephi 17), he had no prior knowledge or blueprint. Instead of handing him detailed instructions, the Lord showed him what to do:
“Thou shalt construct a ship, after the manner which I shall show thee... And it came to pass that the Lord told me whither I should go to find ore…” (1 Nephi 17:8–10)
Why did the Lord show instead of tell?
Because visual guidance fosters deeper understanding.
Just as Nephi asked the Lord where to find ore, you must ask where your data came from and how it was formed.
As a business communicator, your responsibility is similar. Don’t just report numbers—show what matters so others can see clearly, understand deeply, and act wisely. Thoughtful data visualization is a form of stewardship.
As a disciple of Christ, you’ll practice inspired leadership—helping others see truth with clarity and compassion.
Project Roadmap
The Data Visualization and Interpretation task is another scaffolding step in your Business Research Article project. You’ll create one of the two required visualizations for your article.
Why This Matters
Being able to create compelling and accurate data visuals is a super power in business. Your graphic will grab a reader’s attention first, before they read the text. Practicing using AI tools, working to define content, and polishing your final data viz will all be extremely useful in your future work. It will also make your final Business Research Article draft easier and sharper.
Data Visualization Tools
It is beyond the scope of MCom 320 to teach you to use all available data visualization tools, but you should watch tutorials and practice using them to improve your data literacy skills.
Watch this Video
Read the Textbook Chapter
Distinguish between data types (quantitative, qualitative, structured, unstructured) and evaluate how they shape communication choices in business contexts.
Interpret data critically and ethically, recognizing sampling limitations, bias, missing context, and implied meaning.
Select and design appropriate visual formats (bar, line, donut) to emphasize key insights clearly and honestly.
Use talking titles and contextual labels to guide audience understanding and emphasize purpose in data visuals.
Integrate visuals into written communication using the Introduce–Insert–Interpret method, clarifying their relevance and implications.
Apply best practices for accurate and ethical visual representation, including simplified design, honest scaling, and source citation.
This lesson aligns with the following BYU Advanced Written and Oral Communication (AWOC) outcomes:
1. Disciplinary Writing
Strong alignment
Focuses on audience-specific presentation of data in written formats.
Encourages clarity of purpose, appropriate structure, and visual rhetoric suited to professional business contexts.
3. Writing Processes
Moderate alignment
Supports prewriting (understanding data), drafting (selecting visual format), and revising (labeling, interpreting, simplifying).
Includes iterative improvement of data presentation and message clarity based on audience needs.
5. Knowledge of Conventions
Strong alignment
Teaches genre-specific formatting for business visuals (charts, infographics, slide decks).
Reinforces conventions of citation, labeling, and ethical design in quantitative communication.
Mission Alignment
Strong alignment
Fosters clarity, judgment, and problem-solving, empowering students to communicate data in ways that guide action and serve others.
Encourages habits of mind that reflect both intellectual rigor and moral responsibility.
Vision Alignment
Moderate alignment
Christlike leadership requires clarity and truthfulness in communication—especially when simplifying complex issues.
Ethical data storytelling promotes transparency and informed decision-making, helping leaders build trust and transform systems for the benefit of others.
Values Alignment
Integrity in Action Teaches students to avoid distortion and misrepresentation in visual communication.
Excellence Emphasizes precision, simplification, and intentional design that serve audience needs.
Student-Centered Statement
This lesson centers on students by giving them the tools to transform raw data into clear, compelling insights. It recognizes that students are not just consumers of information but communicators who must guide teams, stakeholders, and clients. By teaching ethical, audience-aware data storytelling, the lesson prepares students to lead in a data-driven world with clarity and integrity.