The challenge and value of dashboard development during the COVID-19 pandemic

Decision makers in crisis situations need relevant, accurate and complete information. Today, technologies provide a plethora of options for generating, accumulating and processing information. Technologies also enable that information to be managed and presented through dashboards. Recent emergencies have precipitated a surge in the use of dashboards, a prime example of these developments. In particular, for the duration of the crisis, the availability of large quantities of information and the demand for a more holistic approach to emergency responses incentivized the development of(digital) dashboards. However, the design of such dashboards requires costly investments, especially during when resources are scarce during crises. In this paper, we examine the development of dashboards as part of the response to COVID19 in the Netherlands. We explore the motivation for developing different dashboards and the added value that accrues to emergency services in times of crisis.