Unit 01.01: What the reader is supposed to do next

A chart implies an action. When it does not, every reader supplies their own.

What the reader should do next

For each chart, name the action it prompts. Some legitimately prompt none - those are context, and saying so is part of the design.

The code lists four charts and their implied action.

CHARTS = [
    ("weekly defect rate, with the target line",
     "investigate the two weeks above target"),
    ("headcount by department",
     "nothing -- it is context, not a prompt"),
    ("cost per unit, three suppliers",
     "renegotiate with the most expensive one"),
    ("all metrics, all quarters",
     "unclear -- the reader will pick their own"),
]
print(f"{'chart':44} what the reader should do next")
for chart, action in CHARTS:
    print(f"{chart:44} {action}")

print("""
The last row is the failure. When a chart does not imply an action, every
reader supplies their own -- and in a meeting that means the loudest reader's.

Context charts are legitimate. Say so in the title, so nobody waits for a
conclusion that was never there.
""")

The last row is the failure: an unclear action means each reader picks their own, and in a meeting that means the loudest reader's.

The second row is fine. Headcount by department prompts nothing and is useful background - as long as the title says so, rather than leaving people waiting for a conclusion that was never coming.

The mistake this prevents

The mistake is treating "no action" as a defect and manufacturing one. A context chart with an invented recommendation is worse than a context chart: it asserts a finding the data was never asked to support.

Takeaway

Name the action a chart prompts. If it prompts none, label it as context so nobody waits for a conclusion.

Mark complete