Until we understand what to do with it, data is an abstraction. Each of these tools have a specific value for sharing data, and regardless of which you choose, the format you choose will be part of a larger set of tools that help others engage in the significance of the issue and make specific choices about the allocation of the resources available to them.
No matter how compelling your infographic or how significant your data are, your data needs context, and you have to present it in a clear and compelling way. It’s important to think of these as tools that support your theory of change. The tools you create support your strategy–it’s not useful to create a report and then try to build a strategy for getting people to see it. Rather than thinking about data as something that should be delivered through a single report, think about how each of these components can support the activities that are part of the larger strategy you identified in the previous section.
