A Marimekko chart in Tableau, or Mekko chart, is a two-dimensional graphical representation that displays categorical data in two dimensions, providing a nuanced understanding of relationships and proportions within the data. It combines elements of both bar and area charts, where the width of each category column reflects its proportion relative to the total, and the height reflects another variable.
In Tableau, Marimekko charts serve as a powerful visualization tool for analyzing market share, sales data, and demographic distributions, making it easier for stakeholders to understand complex data relationships and trends at a glance.
When to use Marimekko Chart in Tableau
Analyzing market share
Marimekko charts help visualize market share among competitors, allowing for quick comparisons of each company’s relative position in the market.
Segmenting data
When analyzing multiple segments in two dimensions, such as customer demographics and product categories, Marimekko charts effectively illustrate these relationships.
Visualizing complex data
For datasets with multiple categorical variables, Marimekko charts simplify the representation, helping stakeholders easily understand interactions and distributions.
Tracking performance metrics
In performance analysis, Marimekko charts can show how different segments contribute to overall performance, helping to identify high-performing and low-performing areas.
Importance of Marimekko Chart in Tableau
Comprehensive view of data
By displaying two dimensions simultaneously, Marimekko charts provide a holistic view of data relationships, allowing stakeholders to gain insights that may not be apparent in traditional charts.
Enhanced comparative analysis
The proportional width and height of the segments enable easy comparison between categories, facilitating a deeper understanding of the structure and distribution of the data.
Facilitate storytelling
Marimekko charts effectively communicate complex information visually, helping to convey narratives and insights during presentations or reports.
Support data-driven decision making
By providing a clear visual representation of performance metrics and market conditions, Marimekko charts enable decision makers to identify opportunities for growth and improvement.
Steps to create Marimekko Chart in Tableau
Step 1: Open Tableau
Step 2: Click on Text file to connect with Tableau
Step 3: Browse csv file (or other file format as your need) and click on Open
Step 4: Click on Sheet 1 (Worksheet) to make visual
Step 5: Click on Analysis tab and select Create Calculated Field…
Step 6: Name the field (Region Sales) and place the following formula as mentioned in image:
Step 7: Click on Analysis tab and select Create Calculated Field…
Step 8: Name the field (Running Total Region) and place the following formula as mentioned in image:
Step 9: Drag-n-drop the field as marked (red box) in image:
Step 10: Drag-n-drop Running Total Region in Columns and Sales Amount in Rows
Step 11: Click on dropdown with Automatic (Marks card) and select Bar
Step 12: Click on Size (Marks card); select Fixed and give alignment Right
Step 13: Right click over Sum of Sales Amount (Rows) and select Add Table Calculation…
Step 14: Select Percent of Total in Calculation Type; Compute using Specific Dimension and mark only on Product Category
Step 15: Right click over Running Total Region (Columns) and select Compute Using to selecting Region
Output: This chart effectively shows the relative market share by region and the segmentation by product category, helping to identify which regions and products contribute the most to overall sales.
Conclusion
Marimekko charts in Tableau are a valuable tool for visualizing complex data relationships in two dimensions, providing unique insights into market share, performance metrics, and segment distributions. Their ability to display both the relative size and proportion of categories allows stakeholders to quickly understand complex data patterns and make informed decisions.
By incorporating Marimekko charts into your data analysis toolkit, you can enhance your ability to effectively communicate insights, support strategic planning, and advance data-driven initiatives within your organization. Their comprehensive view and comparative analysis capabilities ensure that you can convey important narratives and foster a deeper understanding of your data, ultimately leading to better outcomes and greater success in achieving organizational goals.
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