# Scoping dashboards around audience, questions and actions

*CRM Analytics and Einstein Discovery Consultant Study Guide · Analytics Dashboard Design · Last updated November 3, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/crm-analytics-and-einstein-discovery-consultant/analytics-dashboard-design/scoping-dashboards-around-audience-questions-and-actions*

How a consultant turns a dashboard request into scoped requirements: personas and the path of inquiry, which requests to keep, where priority content and filters go, how to avoid clutter, and how to validate the design with users and a final checklist.

- Certification: Salesforce CRM Analytics and Einstein Discovery Consultant
- Exam section: Analytics Dashboard Design
- Study guide: https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/crm-analytics-and-einstein-discovery-consultant

**Official exam objective:**

> Given business requirements, scope, validate, and prioritize dashboard design requirements.

## What the exam expects

- Scope a dashboard request by identifying the audience, the decisions they make and the order in which they ask questions, before choosing charts or a look.
- Prioritise requested widgets and decide which to keep, cut, or move to a linked dashboard or a progressively disclosed view.
- Place priority content and filters on the canvas, adapting the reading-order rule to the audience's language and attention.
- Validate the design before and after building: sketches, user review, Chatter feedback and the final checklist.
- Split content across dashboard pages and choose how viewers move between them.
- Recognise when a requirement calls for action from the dashboard (update a record, start a flow) rather than more information.

Key terms: **persona** (a defined user of the dashboard: role, goals, decisions, familiarity, device); **path of inquiry** (the Monitor, Investigate, Act stages users move through); **progressive disclosure** (showing essentials first and detail only on request); **container widget** (a widget that frames and sections related elements); **link widget** (a widget that navigates to another dashboard, page or asset).

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Design order | Purpose, then structure, then surface; look and feel last | [Dashboard Best Practices](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.bi_dashboard_build_tips.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Persona definition | Role and goals, decisions and questions, familiarity, frequency and device | [Design for Your Audience](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.bi_dashboard_design_audience.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Path of inquiry | Monitor, Investigate, Act, each flowing into the next | [Design for Your Audience](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.bi_dashboard_design_audience.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| App structure | Task-driven for one or two audiences; persona-driven for three or more | [Design for Your Audience](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.bi_dashboard_design_audience.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Progressive disclosure techniques | Drill in, selection-driven navigation, expand and collapse, tooltips, detail panels | [Progressive Disclosure](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.bi_dashboard_progressive_disclosure.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Layout selection | By device properties set on each layout, not by user | [Layout Rules](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.bi_dashboard_layout_rules.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Dashboard pages | Up to 20 per dashboard; filters and selections can be shared | [Create Dashboard Pages](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.bi_dashboard_pages.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Dashboard actions | Row actions update records; buttons start flows, run mass actions, navigate | [Make Dashboards Actionable](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.bi_dashboard_actionable.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |

## Check yourself

- Which four attributes does Help say to define for each dashboard persona?
- When should an app's dashboards be grouped by task rather than by persona?
- Why should every action on a dashboard be tied to the path of inquiry?
- When does Help say progressive disclosure is the right tool?
- When do mobile users lose the ability to swipe between dashboard pages?

## Sources

- [Best Practices for Building Your Own CRM Analytics Dashboard](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.bi_dashboard_build_tips.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Design for Your Audience: Personas and the Path of Inquiry](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.bi_dashboard_design_audience.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Reduce Clutter with Progressive Disclosure](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.bi_dashboard_progressive_disclosure.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Make CRM Analytics Dashboards Actionable](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.bi_dashboard_actionable.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Rules for Choosing a Layout for a Device](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.bi_dashboard_layout_rules.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Add Key Metrics to Evaluate Your Business (Trailhead)](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/wave_dashboard_designer_basics/wave_add_key_metrics_evaluate_business)
- [Charts and Tables: Visualizing Data Effectively (Trailhead)](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/wave_dashboard_designer_basics/wave_get_big_picture_with_charts_and_details_with_tables)
- [CRM Analytics Dashboard Design: Key Concepts (Trailhead)](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/ead-pt3/ead-pt3-design)
- [Create Dashboard Pages](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.bi_dashboard_pages.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Add a Link Widget to Link to Other Assets](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.bi_dashboard_widgets_link_add_flex.htm&type=5&language=en_US)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 12 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the CRM Analytics and Einstein Discovery Consultant pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams