All Times ET
Keywords: radial graph, project management, quantitative data, information visualization
Research projects often require summarization of multiple objectives and endpoints with clear criteria for success and failure—often for multiple projects or tasks. We propose a massively parallel graphic using 3 defining metaphors: (1) Tolstoy: Visual identification of weaknesses and failures is more important than successes, so more ink should be allocated to them; (2) Traffic lights: Encoding success & failure with colors (green & red) and position is enhanced with finer levels (amber for mixed or ambiguous results, plus relative position, typically allowing 9 levels); (3) Targets: A radial layout around the target identifies endpoints by angles, while the radius shows the degree of success. Redundant coding of success/failure by color, size, and relative position speeds comprehension. While the primary graphic element is a point estimate represented by a colored circle, other symbols may be added, such as for error bars, or past estimates. Furthermore, the distinct shape permits flexible applications, such as overlaid upon maps. Potential applications include similar projects across an enterprise, drugs within platform trials (which share a common set of endpoints and target disease, patients within a ward, etc. It is equally suitable for presenting ongoing or final statuses.