Learn It 5.3.2 Choosing and Using Graphics

Non-Numerical Data Charts

There are charts for other types of data that are not based on numbers.

Venn Diagrams

A Venn diagram shows a comparison of two different categories and the items they have in common. The diagram in Figure 1 shows us the different image types that can be safely shared on the Internet.

A Venn diagram with three overlapping circles of different colors. The green circle is labeled GIF with the words “limited color palette” inside. The purple circle is named JPEG with the words “Lossy, no transparency” inside.The orange circle titled PNG contains the words “Larger file size” inside. “Web safe” overlaps with all of the circles. “Lossless, transparency” overlaps with the GIF and PNG circles. “Large color palette” overlaps with the JPEG and PNG circles. “Smaller file size” overlaps with the GIF and JPEG circles.
Figure 1. An example of a Venn diagram

Wherever the circles overlap represents a shared characteristic. For example, JPG and PNG files both have a large color palette, so they overlap in that area. “Web safe” is a characteristic shared by all three, so it’s in the middle where all the circles overlap. Areas of each circle that do not overlap represent characteristics unique to each file type—something they don’t share with any other file type represented.

Flow Charts

Flow charts show a process. Flow charts document a sequence of events from start to finish so that the process can be documented, followed, and managed.

The flow chart in Figure 2 shows the process of how theories are created, spread, and accepted.

A flowchart showing how theories are created, spread, and accepted. "Start" flows to "get and idea" which flows to "perform experiment" which flows to "does the evidence support the idea?" which depending on the answer ("no" flows to "bad idea" and back to "get an idea") leads to different places. "Yes flows to "theory created" then to "use theory to better understand the universe" to "discover new evidence" to "can the theory be modified to explain the new evidence". The flow changes depending on the answer to this question. No flows to "revolution" and yes flows to "improve theory" and back to "use theory to better understand the universe."
Figure 2. An example of a flow chart

You can see at the top there is an idea that leads to an experiment, and then the results determine which path is taken. If the experiment is successful or unsuccessful, then different paths will be chosen. Along the path of the flow chart, all alternatives are presented and choices are made between them. Your eye follows the path from start to finish for every part of the scenario.

Gantt Chart

A Gantt chart is a timeline. Multiple projects can be added to the timeline with start and finish dates, and milestones and deadlines are also reflected. This chart is used to determine how long a project will take, the resources needed, and the order in which tasks need to be completed.

Gantt chart shows three main projects: Construct Birdhouse, Customer invoice, and Packing and Shipping. Construct Birdhouse has six tasks listed as part of the project. To the right of the list of projects and corresponding tasks there is a timeline showing when each task will take place. The project Construct Birdhouse starts on February 23rd with “Determine Birdhouse customer has ordered” and ends on March 6th with “Attach decorations to birdhouse”. The duration of each task is represented with a purple highlight over the days of the week that task will occur. The tasks for the project Customer Invoice and the project “Packing and Shipping” are represented in the same way. Construct Birdhouse and Customer Invoice start on February 27th while Packing and Shipping start on March 5th.
Figure 3. An example of a Gantt chart

In Figure 3, the tasks needed to build a birdhouse are displayed against time. On the left of the chart are all the tasks, and along the top is the time scale. A bar represents each work task; the position and length of the bar indicate the start date, duration, and end date of the task. At a glance, we can determine the following:

  • What the various activities are
  • When each activity begins and ends
  • How long each activity lasts
  • Where activities overlap with other ones, and by how much
  • The start and end date of the whole project

Organizational Charts

Organizational charts (sometimes called hierarchy charts) show the people in an organization and their reporting relationships. Usually, the organizational chart will have a president or CEO at the top, followed by vice presidents, then their direct reports, and so on. An organizational chart is usually created and maintained by human resource professionals who want a visual view of their organization’s structure and reporting relationships so they can make better decisions about leveraging the company’s talent.

The image is an organizational chart for a company. At the top of the hierarchy is the "President," directly below are five Vice President positions: Vice President of Research, Vice President of Sales, Vice President of Engineering, Vice President of Production, and Vice President of Finance. Each Vice President role oversees a different department indicated by the color-coded boxes below them. For the Vice President of Research, there are four "Scientist" positions (A, B, C, D) directly reporting to them. Similarly, the Vice President of Sales has four "Sales Rep" positions (A, B, C, D); the Vice President of Engineering has four "Engineer" positions (A, B, C, D); the Vice President of Production oversees four "Scheduler" positions (A, B, C, D); and the Vice President of Finance has four "Accountant" positions (A, B, C, D). There are also four Project Manager positions that report directly to the President. There is one Project Manager for each level of the hierarchy (A, B, C, D). The chart is color-coded: the President is in a black box, Vice Presidents in blue, and their direct reports in shades of purple and pink, with darker shades for 'A' positions and lighter shades as it goes down to 'D' positions. This visual structure is designed to clarify the reporting relationships within the company.
Figure 4. An example of an organizational chart

The organizational chart in Figure 4 shows a president at the top of the hierarchy. Directly reporting to the President are five Vice Presidents, each responsible for distinct operational areas: Research, Sales, Engineering, Production, and Finance. The VPs have four subordinate roles below them, each would report directly to the role above.