Flowcharting the Circulation of Ideas: A Guide to Sankey Charts

Flowcharting is a powerful tool for visualizing the circulation of ideas and for identifying opportunities for improvement. One type of flowchart that is particularly useful for this purpose is the Sankey chart.

What is a Sankey chart?

A Sankey chart is a flowchart that uses arrows and circles to represent the flow of materials or information between different nodes or regions. It is named after the Dutch engineer Charles Sankey, who invented the chart in the late 19th century.

How is a Sankey chart created?

To create a Sankey chart, you will need to have data that describes the flow of materials or information between different nodes or regions. This data can be in the form of a table or a list of values, and it should include information about the source, target, and quantity of the flow.

Once you have your data, you can use a flowcharting software such as Microsoft Visio, Lucidchart, or Draw.io to create your chart. The software will allow you to add nodes and connect them with arrows based on your data. You can also customize the appearance of the chart by adjusting the colors, fonts, and other visual elements.

Applications of Sankey charts

Sankey charts are commonly used for visualizing the circulation of ideas, such as the flow of knowledge or ideas between different departments or individuals within an organization. They are also useful for identifying opportunities for improvement, such as inefficiencies or bottlenecks in the flow of materials or information.

For example, a Sankey chart might be used to visualize the flow of ideas from a team’s initial brainstorming session to the development of a product or service. By examining the chart, you might identify which stages of the process are most time-consuming or inefficient, and take steps to optimize these areas.

In addition to their use in idea flow and process improvement, Sankey charts can also be used to illustrate other types of flows, such as the flow of money or the flow of materials between different steps in a manufacturing process.

Conclusion

Sankey charts are a valuable tool for visualizing the flow of ideas and for identifying opportunities for improvement. They can be used to create valuable insights and recommendations for organizations, and they are a simple yet powerful way to communicate complex information in a clear and easy-to-understand way.

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