Building Effort Dashboards

This guide shows how to create comprehensive dashboards for monitoring multiple efforts, team workloads, and project health.

Overview

Build automated dashboards that answer key questions:

What efforts are we running?
What’s the status of each effort?
Which teams are most loaded?
What are the risks and blockers?
Are we on track for deadlines?

Dashboard Types

Executive Dashboard - High-level status for leadership
Team Dashboard - Work status for individual teams
Effort Dashboard - Detailed tracking for effort leads
Risk Dashboard - Blockers, dependencies, red flags

Executive Dashboard

For leadership visibility into all efforts.

Setup

mkdir -p ~/dashboards/executive
cd ~/dashboards/executive

cat > executive-dashboard.sh << 'EOF'
#!/bin/bash
# Executive-level dashboard for all efforts

OUTPUT_DIR="./reports/$(date +%Y-%m-%d)"
mkdir -p "$OUTPUT_DIR"

echo "EXECUTIVE DASHBOARD - $(date +%Y-%m-%d)"
echo "Organization Status Report"
echo "=================================================="
echo ""

# Define all efforts in organization
EFFORTS=(
  "PROJ-1000:mobile-redesign:2025-04-30"
  "PROJ-2000:q1-payment-systems:2025-03-31"
  "PROJ-3000:api-v2-migration:2025-06-30"
  "PROJ-4000:infrastructure-upgrade:2025-05-15"
)

echo "EFFORT STATUS SUMMARY"
echo "────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────"
printf "%-30s | %5s | %10s | %10s | STATUS\n" "Effort" "Done" "Progress" "To Do"
echo "────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────"

for EFFORT_INFO in "${EFFORTS[@]}"; do
  IFS=':' read -r EPIC PROJECT_NAME TARGET_DATE <<< "$EFFORT_INFO"

  # Get counts
  TOTAL=$(jira-ticket-creator search --jql "key = $EPIC OR parent = $EPIC" 2>/dev/null | wc -l)
  DONE=$(jira-ticket-creator search --jql "(key = $EPIC OR parent = $EPIC) AND status = Done" 2>/dev/null | wc -l)
  IN_PROGRESS=$(jira-ticket-creator search --jql "(key = $EPIC OR parent = $EPIC) AND status = 'In Progress'" 2>/dev/null | wc -l)
  TODO=$((TOTAL - DONE - IN_PROGRESS))

  # Calculate health
  if [ $TOTAL -gt 0 ]; then
    PERCENT=$((DONE * 100 / TOTAL))
    if [ $PERCENT -ge 75 ]; then STATUS="✅ ON TRACK";
    elif [ $PERCENT -ge 50 ]; then STATUS="IN PROGRESS";
    else STATUS="AT RISK"; fi
  else
    PERCENT=0
    STATUS="PLANNING"
  fi

  printf "%-30s | %5d | %10d | %10d | %s\n" "$PROJECT_NAME" "$DONE" "$IN_PROGRESS" "$TODO" "$STATUS"
done

echo "────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────"
echo ""

# Critical issues across all efforts
echo "CRITICAL ISSUES REQUIRING ATTENTION"
echo "────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────"

# Blockers
BLOCKERS=$(jira-ticket-creator search --jql "status = Blocked" 2>/dev/null | wc -l)
echo "Blocked Tickets: $BLOCKERS"
if [ $BLOCKERS -gt 0 ]; then
  jira-ticket-creator search --jql "status = Blocked" --format table | head -5
fi
echo ""

# Overdue
OVERDUE=$(jira-ticket-creator search --jql "duedate < now() AND status != Done" 2>/dev/null | wc -l)
echo "Overdue Tickets: $OVERDUE"
if [ $OVERDUE -gt 0 ]; then
  jira-ticket-creator search --jql "duedate < now() AND status != Done" --format table | head -5
fi
echo ""

# High priority
CRITICAL=$(jira-ticket-creator search --jql "priority = Critical AND status != Done" 2>/dev/null | wc -l)
echo "Critical Priority: $CRITICAL"
if [ $CRITICAL -gt 0 ]; then
  jira-ticket-creator search --jql "priority = Critical AND status != Done" --format table | head -5
fi
echo ""

# Resource utilization
echo "RESOURCE UTILIZATION"
echo "────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────"
jira-ticket-creator team summary 2>/dev/null | head -20
echo ""

# Team workload
echo "TEAM WORKLOAD VISUALIZATION"
echo "────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────"
jira-ticket-creator gantt --format ascii --weeks 2

echo ""
echo "Report generated: $OUTPUT_DIR"
echo "Full HTML report: $OUTPUT_DIR/dashboard.html"

# Generate HTML version
jira-ticket-creator gantt --format html --output "$OUTPUT_DIR/dashboard.html"
EOF

chmod +x executive-dashboard.sh

Run It

./executive-dashboard.sh
# Output shows all efforts, blockers, risks, team status

# Schedule it to run daily
# Add to crontab:
# 0 9 * * * /path/to/executive-dashboard.sh

Team Dashboard

For individual team leads to monitor their team’s work.

Setup

mkdir -p ~/dashboards/teams/backend
cd ~/dashboards/teams/backend

cat > team-dashboard.sh << 'EOF'
#!/bin/bash
# Team-level dashboard for backend team

TEAM="backend"
OUTPUT_DIR="./reports/$(date +%Y-%m-%d)"
mkdir -p "$OUTPUT_DIR"

echo "$TEAM TEAM DASHBOARD"
echo "$(date +%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S)"
echo "=================================================="
echo ""

# 1. Team workload
echo "1. TEAM WORKLOAD"
echo "────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────"
jira-ticket-creator search --jql "project in (PROJ, API, DB)" --format table
echo ""

# 2. My assignments
echo "2. MY ASSIGNMENTS"
echo "────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────"
jira-ticket-creator search --jql "assignee = currentUser() AND status != Done" --format table
echo ""

# 3. Effort breakdown for team
echo "3. EFFORT BREAKDOWN (What I'm working on)"
echo "────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────"

EFFORTS=("PROJ-1000" "PROJ-2000" "PROJ-3000")
for EPIC in "${EFFORTS[@]}"; do
  COUNT=$(jira-ticket-creator search --jql "parent = $EPIC AND assignee = currentUser()" 2>/dev/null | wc -l)
  if [ $COUNT -gt 0 ]; then
    echo "Effort $EPIC: $COUNT tickets"
  fi
done
echo ""

# 4. Blockers
echo "4. BLOCKERS (What's stuck)"
echo "────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────"
jira-ticket-creator search --jql "project in (PROJ, API, DB) AND status = Blocked" --format table
echo ""

# 5. Today's focus
echo "5. THIS WEEK'S FOCUS"
echo "────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────"
jira-ticket-creator search --jql "project in (PROJ, API, DB) AND priority = High AND status != Done" --format table | head -10
echo ""

# 6. Code review needed
echo "6. IN REVIEW / READY TO MERGE"
echo "────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────"
jira-ticket-creator search --jql "project in (PROJ, API, DB) AND status = 'In Review'" --format table
echo ""

# Generate gantt for team
echo "Generating team gantt chart..."
jira-ticket-creator gantt --format html --output "$OUTPUT_DIR/team-gantt.html"

echo ""
echo "Report saved to: $OUTPUT_DIR"
echo "Open in browser: open $OUTPUT_DIR/team-gantt.html"
EOF

chmod +x team-dashboard.sh

Run It

./team-dashboard.sh
# Shows personal work, team blockers, efforts, priorities

Effort Lead Dashboard

For effort owners to track progress in detail.

Setup

mkdir -p ~/dashboards/efforts/mobile-redesign
cd ~/dashboards/efforts/mobile-redesign

cat > effort-dashboard.sh << 'EOF'
#!/bin/bash
# Effort lead dashboard for a single effort/epic

EPIC="PROJ-1000"
EFFORT_NAME="Mobile App Redesign"
OUTPUT_DIR="./reports/$(date +%Y-%m-%d)"
mkdir -p "$OUTPUT_DIR"

echo "EFFORT DASHBOARD: $EFFORT_NAME"
echo "$(date +%Y-%m-%d)"
echo "=================================================="
echo ""

# 1. Overall progress
echo "1. OVERALL PROGRESS"
echo "────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────"

TOTAL=$(jira-ticket-creator search --jql "parent = $EPIC" 2>/dev/null | wc -l)
DONE=$(jira-ticket-creator search --jql "parent = $EPIC AND status = Done" 2>/dev/null | wc -l)
IN_PROGRESS=$(jira-ticket-creator search --jql "parent = $EPIC AND status = 'In Progress'" 2>/dev/null | wc -l)
TODO=$((TOTAL - DONE - IN_PROGRESS))

if [ $TOTAL -gt 0 ]; then
  PERCENT=$((DONE * 100 / TOTAL))
  FILLED=$((PERCENT / 10))
  EMPTY=$((10 - FILLED))

  PROGRESS_BAR=$(printf '█%.0s' $(seq 1 $FILLED))$(printf '░%.0s' $(seq 1 $EMPTY))
  echo "Progress: [$PROGRESS_BAR] $PERCENT%"
  echo ""
  echo "Done:        $DONE/$TOTAL"
  echo "In Progress: $IN_PROGRESS/$TOTAL"
  echo "To Do:       $TODO/$TOTAL"
else
  echo "No tickets found for this effort"
fi
echo ""

# 2. By component
echo "2. PROGRESS BY COMPONENT"
echo "────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────"

for COMPONENT in Frontend Backend QA Design; do
  COUNT=$(jira-ticket-creator search --jql "parent = $EPIC AND component = $COMPONENT" 2>/dev/null | wc -l)
  DONE=$(jira-ticket-creator search --jql "parent = $EPIC AND component = $COMPONENT AND status = Done" 2>/dev/null | wc -l)

  if [ $COUNT -gt 0 ]; then
    PCT=$((DONE * 100 / COUNT))
    echo "$COMPONENT: $DONE/$COUNT (${PCT}%)"
  fi
done
echo ""

# 3. Risk analysis
echo "3. RISK ANALYSIS"
echo "────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────"

BLOCKED=$(jira-ticket-creator search --jql "parent = $EPIC AND status = Blocked" 2>/dev/null | wc -l)
CRITICAL=$(jira-ticket-creator search --jql "parent = $EPIC AND priority = Critical" 2>/dev/null | wc -l)
UNASSIGNED=$(jira-ticket-creator search --jql "parent = $EPIC AND assignee is EMPTY" 2>/dev/null | wc -l)

echo "Blocked: $BLOCKED"
echo "Critical Priority: $CRITICAL"
echo "Unassigned: $UNASSIGNED"

if [ $BLOCKED -gt 0 ] || [ $CRITICAL -gt 0 ]; then
  echo ""
  echo "Items needing attention:"
  if [ $BLOCKED -gt 0 ]; then
    jira-ticket-creator search --jql "parent = $EPIC AND status = Blocked" --format table | head -5
  fi
fi
echo ""

# 4. Team assignments
echo "4. TEAM ASSIGNMENTS"
echo "────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────"
jira-ticket-creator search --jql "parent = $EPIC AND assignee is not EMPTY" --format json 2>/dev/null | \
  jq -r '.[] | .fields.assignee.name' | sort | uniq -c | sort -rn

echo ""

# 5. Upcoming deadlines
echo "5. UPCOMING DEADLINES"
echo "────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────"
jira-ticket-creator search --jql "parent = $EPIC AND duedate is not EMPTY AND duedate <= endOfMonth()" \
  --format table | head -10
echo ""

# 6. Visual gantt
jira-ticket-creator gantt --format html --output "$OUTPUT_DIR/gantt.html"

echo "Report saved to: $OUTPUT_DIR"
echo "View gantt: open $OUTPUT_DIR/gantt.html"
EOF

chmod +x effort-dashboard.sh

Run It

./effort-dashboard.sh
# Detailed view of one effort: progress, risks, deadlines, team load

Risk Dashboard

Monitor risks, blockers, and red flags across all work.

Setup

cat > risk-dashboard.sh << 'EOF'
#!/bin/bash
# Risk/blocker monitoring dashboard

OUTPUT_DIR="./reports/$(date +%Y-%m-%d)"
mkdir -p "$OUTPUT_DIR"

echo "RISK & BLOCKER DASHBOARD"
echo "$(date +%Y-%m-%d)"
echo "=================================================="
echo ""

# 1. Currently blocked
echo "1. CURRENTLY BLOCKED TICKETS"
echo "────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────"
BLOCKED=$(jira-ticket-creator search --jql "status = Blocked" 2>/dev/null | wc -l)
echo "Total blocked: $BLOCKED"
echo ""
jira-ticket-creator search --jql "status = Blocked" --format table | tee "$OUTPUT_DIR/blocked.txt"
echo ""

# 2. Overdue items
echo "2. OVERDUE ITEMS"
echo "────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────"
OVERDUE=$(jira-ticket-creator search --jql "duedate < now() AND status != Done" 2>/dev/null | wc -l)
echo "Total overdue: $OVERDUE"
echo ""
jira-ticket-creator search --jql "duedate < now() AND status != Done" --format table | tee "$OUTPUT_DIR/overdue.txt"
echo ""

# 3. High priority without assignee
echo "3. HIGH PRIORITY UNASSIGNED"
echo "────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────"
UNASSIGNED=$(jira-ticket-creator search --jql "priority >= High AND assignee is EMPTY" 2>/dev/null | wc -l)
echo "Total unassigned high priority: $UNASSIGNED"
echo ""
jira-ticket-creator search --jql "priority >= High AND assignee is EMPTY" --format table | tee "$OUTPUT_DIR/unassigned.txt"
echo ""

# 4. No activity in 2 weeks
echo "4. STALE TICKETS (No update in 2 weeks)"
echo "────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────"
STALE=$(jira-ticket-creator search --jql "status != Done AND updated <= -14d" 2>/dev/null | wc -l)
echo "Total stale: $STALE"
echo ""
jira-ticket-creator search --jql "status != Done AND updated <= -14d" --format table | head -10 | tee "$OUTPUT_DIR/stale.txt"
echo ""

# 5. Critical priority
echo "5. CRITICAL PRIORITY ITEMS"
echo "────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────"
CRITICAL=$(jira-ticket-creator search --jql "priority = Critical" 2>/dev/null | wc -l)
echo "Total critical: $CRITICAL"
echo ""
jira-ticket-creator search --jql "priority = Critical AND status != Done" --format table | tee "$OUTPUT_DIR/critical.txt"
echo ""

# 6. Dependencies at risk
echo "6. DEPENDENCY ISSUES"
echo "────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────"
echo "Blocking other tickets:"
jira-ticket-creator search --jql "linked = Blocks AND status != Done" --format table | head -10
echo ""

# Generate summary report
TOTAL_ISSUES=$(BLOCKED + OVERDUE + UNASSIGNED + STALE + CRITICAL)
echo ""
echo "RISK SUMMARY"
echo "────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────"
echo "Blocked: $BLOCKED"
echo "Overdue: $OVERDUE"
echo "High Priority Unassigned: $UNASSIGNED"
echo "Stale: $STALE"
echo "Critical: $CRITICAL"
echo ""
echo "Total items needing attention: $((BLOCKED + OVERDUE + UNASSIGNED + CRITICAL))"

echo ""
echo "Reports saved to: $OUTPUT_DIR"
EOF

chmod +x risk-dashboard.sh

Run It

./risk-dashboard.sh
# Identifies all issues that need immediate attention

Automated Scheduling

Schedule dashboards to run automatically and send reports.

Using Cron

# Edit crontab
crontab -e

# Add these lines:

# Executive dashboard - 9am daily
0 9 * * * /path/to/executive-dashboard.sh

# Team dashboards - 8am daily
0 8 * * * /path/to/team-dashboard.sh

# Effort dashboards - 2pm daily
0 14 * * * /path/to/effort-dashboard.sh

# Risk dashboard - 7am daily (early warning)
0 7 * * * /path/to/risk-dashboard.sh

# Weekly summary - Friday 5pm
0 17 * * 5 /path/to/executive-dashboard.sh > ~/weekly-summary.txt

Using GitHub Actions (if repo-based)

# .github/workflows/daily-dashboard.yml
name: Daily Dashboard Reports

on:
  schedule:
    - cron: '0 9 * * *'  # 9am UTC daily

jobs:
  dashboard:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v2
      - uses: actions/setup-go@v2
      - run: go build -o jira-ticket-creator ./cmd/jira-ticket-creator
      - run: ./dashboards/executive-dashboard.sh
      - name: Commit report
        run: |
          git config user.name "Dashboard Bot"
          git add reports/
          git commit -m "Daily dashboard report"
          git push

Dashboard Best Practices

Keep it simple - Executive dashboard should fit on one screen
Use clear metrics - % complete, number of blockers, days until deadline
Highlight risks - Blockers, overdue, critical items need visual prominence
Run consistently - Same time each day so people expect it
Archive reports - Keep history for trend analysis
Share widely - Send to all stakeholders, not just leads
Make actionable - Each item should show who to contact or what to do

Example Report Output Structure

DASHBOARD NAME
  Date/Time

KEY METRICS
  Overall progress: X%
  Team workload: Y items
  Blockers: Z

STATUS BY EFFORT
  Effort 1: 50% complete, 2 blockers
  Effort 2: 75% complete, on track

RISKS & BLOCKERS
  List of critical items

TEAM STATUS
  Resource utilization

UPCOMING
  Deadlines this week

ACTIONS NEEDED
  Specific decisions/escalations

Building Effort Dashboards

Overview

Dashboard Types

Executive Dashboard

Setup

Run It

Team Dashboard

Setup

Run It

Effort Lead Dashboard

Setup

Run It

Risk Dashboard

Setup

Run It

Automated Scheduling

Using Cron

Using GitHub Actions (if repo-based)

Dashboard Best Practices

Example Report Output Structure

See Also