Sankey charts are a powerful and elegant way of visualizing data flow and identifying opportunities in complex systems. They were invented by Bill Severance in the early 1980s, and since then have become a popular tool in a variety of fields, including business, engineering, and social sciences.

Sankey charts are essentially directed acyclic graphs (DAGs) that use lines to represent flow between nodes, with the direction of the flow indicating the direction of the graph. The nodes in a Sankey chart represent entities or events, and the edges between nodes represent the flow of data or information between these entities or events.

To create a Sankey chart, you first need to gather a dataset that describes the flow of data or information in your system. This might include data on the inputs and outputs of a manufacturing process, or information on how money flows through an economy.

Once you have your dataset, you can use software tools such as Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, or specialized Sankey chart software to create a Sankey chart. The software typically requires you to specify the nodes and edges in your dataset, as well as any other details that might be relevant to your analysis (such as the names of the entities or events).

There are many ways that Sankey charts can be used to analyze data and identify opportunities. Here are just a few examples:

1. Identifying bottlenecks: A common use of Sankey charts is to identify bottlenecks in data flow within a system. This can help you identify areas where improvements can be made to increase efficiency or reduce delays. For example, you might use a Sankey chart to analyze the flow of information through a customer service call center and identify areas where customers are waiting excessively long times for resolution.
2. Identifying sources of innovation: Sankey charts can also be used to identify sources of innovation within a system. For example, you might use a Sankey chart to analyze the flow of ideas between departments in an organization and identify areas where new ideas are being generated that could be developed further.
3. Identifying opportunities for collaboration: Sankey charts can also be used to identify opportunities for collaboration within a system. For example, you might use a Sankey chart to analyze the flow of resources between different departments in an organization and identify areas where collaboration could improve efficiency or reduce waste.
4. Identifying sources of value: Finally, Sankey charts can be used to identify sources of value within a system. For example, you might use a Sankey chart to analyze the flow of value through an ecosystem (such as an online marketplace) and identify areas where new value propositions could be created that would benefit all parties involved in the ecosystem.

Overall, Sankey charts offer a powerful and flexible way of visualizing data flow and identifying opportunities for improvement or innovation within complex systems. Whether you are analyzing customer service processes, identifying sources of innovation within an organization, or analyzing value flows through an ecosystem, Sankey charts can help you gain valuable insights into how your systems work and how they can be optimized for greater efficiency and effectiveness.

SankeyMaster

SankeyMaster is your go-to tool for creating complex Sankey charts . Easily enter data and create Sankey charts that accurately reveal intricate data relationships.