Patent ID: 7571129

Claim:
A method for visualizing numerical benchmarks to interpret performance of a business, comprising: sending, utilizing an electronic interface, a first electronic request to a data provider directly from a user, the request specifying a business; sending, utilizing the electronic interface, a second electronic request to the data provider directly from a user, the request specifying an industry; receiving, utilizing the electronic interface, information electronically from the data provider relating to the general performance of the specified business in relation to the specified industry wherein the information includes a business ratio value, an industry lower quartile value, an industry median value and an industry upper quartile value; loading, utilizing a processor, the received information into a spreadsheet application; and creating, utilizing the processor, a display based on the information loaded into the spreadsheet application, including in the display a graphical shape bilaterally symmetric about a first axis and having a left and right side, the left side of the graphical shape being associated with the upper quartile value, the right side of the graphical shape being associated with the lower quartile value, and the first axis being associated with the median value, and further including in the display the lower quartile value, the median value, the upper quartile value of the industry, and at least one reference demarcation regarding a performance of the specified business in relation to the specified industry, wherein the business ratio value is indicated in relation to the industry lower quartile value, industry median value, and industry upper quartile value.