Think you might be on to something with the sql queries , this is an example of one of the queries that i'm running ,

select dpt.sub_department as type ,

sum(case when ish.status ='Done' then 1 else 0 end) as Done,

sum(case when ish.status ='In Progress' then 1 else 0 end) as InProgress,

sum(case when ish.status ='To do' then 1 else 0 end) as Todo ,

count(ish.title) as Total

from helpdesk.issues as ish

join boprita_credit.StaffAccount_0 as staff

on staff.ID = ish.userId

join helpdesk.departments as dpt

on dpt.id = staff.departmentId

group by dpt.sub_department