Modern enterprises generate unprecedented volumes of operational data, yet senior-level decision-makers are faced with lengthy documents and boring reports when it comes to utilising that very data. Static media are ineffective at communicating live, interconnected data, especially to people with limited time and attention. Current enterprise platforms and dashboards are designed for analytical precision rather than cognitive clarity, resulting in information overload and fragmented understanding at the management level. C-level leaders and their teams often lack the cognitive tools to perceive, interpret, and communicate complex dependencies across their organisations. If they don't see and are not able to communicate their system holistically, they can't be in the position to make optimal decisions.

Although hyperbolic statements seem to dominate the internet about the importance of visual communication, which are mostly marketing tricks serving company interests, we also know from research that the human brain is first and foremost a visual machine [1]. Certain industries not only know this very well but utilise this fact to our detriment. It is puzzling to see how effectively the marketing industry applies these instruments to influence our consumer decision-making, yet we don't use the same possibilities when it comes to handling complex systems or solving wicked problems in our world. This lack of implementing state-of-the-art solutions hinders the possibility to produce less waste, save time and cost, and move towards a more sustainable, circular economy.

My approach introduces the concept of Visual Enterprise Management (VEM), a real-time, interactive visualisation environment that transforms complex corporate data into intuitive, spatial, and narrative forms. The main characteristics of this approach are; the focus on visuals to attract attention, interactivity to control information load, and the accessibility of the system for non-technical personnel. The majority of data exploration tools are designed with technically oriented people in mind. However, the personal traits that help individuals obtain a C-level leadership position are not naturally linked to the enjoyment of handling numerical data.

Grounded in human visual thinking theory and cognitive design principles, VEM explores how interactive 3D visualisation and natural language control can enhance executive attention, information retention, and situational awareness in mid-to-large enterprises. Apart from attractive visuals that grab attention, interactivity plays another crucial role in learning and memory. Merkt et al. (2011) and Rop et al. (2018) confirmed that the effectiveness of interactive videos, where the user can self-regulate the pace of information delivery, was significantly higher compared to passive video watching [2], [3]. We also know from studies that visual communication has a significant impact on information retention and recall [4]. In my case, the possibility to naturally explore diverse aspects of the visually represented data and their connections would result in a holistic cognitive understanding of a large firm as a whole.

Since I'm at the very beginning of my research, in my talk I would present the generic idea of VEM, demonstrate how it is connected to video game development and AI, and show an example of how I think it could work in a real-life scenario.

[2] Merkt, Martin & Weigand, Sonja & Heier, Anke & Schwan, Stephan. (2011). Learning with videos vs. learning with print: The role of interactive features. Learning and Instruction. 21. 687-704. 10.1016/j.learninstruc.2011.03.004.

[3] Rop, Gertjan & Schüler, Anne & Verkoeijen, Peter & Scheiter, Katharina & Gog, Tamara. (2018). The effect of layout and pacing on learning from diagrams with unnecessary text. Applied Cognitive Psychology. 32. 10.1002/acp.3445.

[4] Patchara, Vanichvasin. (2020). Effects of Visual Communication on Memory Enhancement of Thai Undergraduate Students, Kasetsart University. Higher Education Studies. 11. 34-34. 10.5539/hes.v11n1p34.