VISUAL DATA AND INFORMATION

Visual data and information are artifacts that organize and present data and information in a visual format, such as charts, graphs, matrices, and diagrams. Visualizing data makes it easier to absorb data and turn it into information. Visualization artifacts are often produced after data have been collected and analyzed. These artifacts can aid in decision making and prioritization.

• Affinity diagram. This diagram shows large numbers of ideas classified into groups for review and analysis.
• Burndown/burnup chart. This chart is a graphical representation of the work remaining in a timebox or the work completed toward the release of a product or project deliverable.
• Cause-and-effect diagram. This diagram is a visual representation that helps trace an undesirable effect back to its root cause.
• Cumulative flow diagram (CFD). This chart indicates features completed over time, features in development, and those in the backlog. It may also include features at intermediate states, such as features designed but not yet constructed, those in quality assurance, or those in testing.
• Cycle time chart. This diagram shows the average cycle time of the work items completed over time. A cycle time chart may be shown as a scatter diagram or a bar chart.
• Dashboards. This set of charts and graphs shows progress or performance against important measures of the project.
• Flowchart. This diagram depicts the inputs, process actions, and outputs of one or more processes within a system.
• Gantt chart. This bar chart provides schedule information where activities are listed on the vertical axis, dates are shown on the horizontal axis, and activity durations are shown as horizontal bars placed according to start and finish dates.
• Histogram. This bar chart shows the graphical representation of numerical data.
• Information radiator. This artifact is a visible, physical display that provides information to the rest of the organization, enabling timely knowledge sharing.
• Lead time chart. This diagram shows the trend over time of the average lead time of the items completed in work. A lead time chart may be shown as a scatter diagram or a bar chart.
• Prioritization matrix. This matrix is a scatter diagram where effort is shown on the horizontal axis and value on the vertical axis, divided into four quadrants to classify items by priority.
• Project schedule network diagram. This graphical representation shows the logical relationships among the project schedule activities.
• Requirements traceability matrix. This matrix links product requirements from their origin to the deliverables that satisfy them.
• Responsibility assignment matrix (RAM). This matrix is a grid that shows the project resources assigned to each work package. A RACI chart is a common way of showing stakeholders who are responsible, accountable, consulted, or informed and are associated with project activities, decisions, and deliverables.
• Scatter diagram. This graph shows the relationship between two variables.
• S-curve. This graph displays cumulative costs over a specified period of time.
• Stakeholder engagement assessment matrix. This matrix compares current and desired stakeholder engagement levels.
• Story map. A story map is a visual model of all the features and functionality desired for a given product, created to give the project team a holistic view of what they are building and why.
• Throughput chart. This chart shows the accepted deliverables over time. A throughput chart may be shown as a scatter diagram or a bar chart.
• Use case. This artifact describes and explores how a user interacts with a system to achieve a specific goal.
• Value stream map. This is a lean enterprise method used to document, analyze, and improve the flow of information or materials required to produce a product or service for a customer. Value stream maps can be used to identify waste.
• Velocity chart. This chart tracks the rate at which the deliverables are produced, validated, and accepted within a predefined interval.

4.6.7 REPORTS

Reports are formal records or summaries of information. Reports communicate relevant (usually summary level) information to stakeholders. Often reports are given to stakeholders who are interested in the project status, such as sponsors, business owners, or PMOs.

• Quality report. This project document includes quality management issues, recommendations for corrective actions, and a summary of findings from quality control activities. It may include recommendations for process, project, and product improvements.
• Risk report. This project document is developed progressively throughout the risk management processes and summarizes information on individual project risks and the level of overall project risk.
• Status report. This document provides a report on the current status of the project. It may include information on progress since the last report and forecasts for cost and schedule performance.