Polar charts, Radar charts
Polar, or `Radar' charts are a form of graph that allows a
visual comparison between several quantitative or qualitative
aspects of a situation, or when charts are drawn for several
situations using the same axes (poles), a visual comparison between
the situations may be made. The example shown here plots the
strategy development style of an organisation based around the
six labelled poles. Different companies' strategy development
styles are reflected in the shape of the hexagon drawn to link
the plotted points.
Between three and eight attributes can be plotted on each
chart. Many more than eight becomes confusing. Scales for each
attribute are arranged radially and the points plotted on each
radius are joined to generate a shape that can be visually compared
with the same plot for another situation. In a gap analysis situation,
the `desirable state' and the `present state' data can be plotted
on the same chart to demonstrate graphically the gap between
them. Similarly in a change situation where 'before' and 'after'
results can be graphically compared. |
