When to effectively use a one-page diagram? This is a question I hear frequently when the topic of one-page diagrams comes up. One of the most important considerations when deciding to use a one-page diagram is the prior knowledge of your viewers. Using a one-page diagram is most effective if the members of your audience have prior knowledge of the content you are conveying.
What to do if that is not the case? Break the diagram into a sequence of diagrams. You can then walk them through the sequence and help them connect the dots one by one.
As always, knowing your audience is your most important tool to effective visual communications.
Bill,
One page diagrams, heck any diagram, can be confusing. Recently, I’ve been working on an organizational chart that includes my company’s quality system and all forms, records and paperwork. With 25 years in quality management, this document will make perfect sense to me, but would be WAY too complicated for new employees.
So, I agree–same diagram, different levels of content, or same diagram, broken into smaller sections and moved to different pages. It all depends on the use. What are you trying to communicate? Who is your audience?
All the best,
Rodney Robbins
Author of the upcoming book, “Quality Management that Pay–The Laughing Buddha’s Guide.”