Thinking Visually: Business Applications of 14 Core Diagrams [Illustrated] [Paperback]

Malcolm Craig (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2000 | ISBN-10: 082644833X | ISBN-13: 978-0826448330 | Edition: illustrated edition

Some people make use of diagramming quite naturally, without prompting. Others would rather use a thousand words than a simple, quickly drawn diagram. This is an introduction to the world of diagrams. Fourteen core diagrams are introduced, explained and illustrated in the book, and the reader is urged to see these as the essential building blocks of diagramming. Each core diagram is linked to real cases from industry and public life, to demonstrate how it is used in practice. Once the diagrams have been mastered, it is possible to combine and adapt them in many different ways.

Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: Thomson Learning; illustrated edition edition (September 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 082644833X
• ISBN-13: 978-0826448330
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #782,447 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

154 of 156 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extraordinary tool for writers and analysts, August 15, 2001

By 

Linda Zarate "IT Ops Consultant" (Azusa, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Thinking Visually: Business Applications of 14 Core Diagrams (Paperback)

As an IT consultant I do a lot of writing and create a lot of graphics to reinforce my words. Before discovering this gem my primary graphics reference was Information Graphics by Robert L. Harris, which is a comprehensive encyclopedia of technical graphics. Thinking Visually will not replace that book, but will augment it because this book is more of a how-to and is focused on 14 basic diagrams that I find myself using in one variation or another in nearly every project. The book is divided into three parts: (1) Introduction to Diagramming, which is among the best descriptions of diagramming and how to approach it that I've had the pleasure of reading; (2) APplying the Core Diagrams, and (3) Introduction to Diagramming, which is an extension of Part 1 that wraps up the book with excellent advice.

Part 2 is the heart of the book. The core Diagrams are divided into six groups: (1) MAPPING THE BUSINESS (System Maps, Mind Maps), (2) RELATIONSHIP AND INFLUENCE (Relationship, Tree, Influence), (3) CONTROL IN BUSINESS (Input/Output, Control), (4) CAUSATION (Multiple Cause, Fishbone [also called Ishikawa], Sign), (5) CHANGE (Force-field, Window), (6) FLOW (Flow, Ring).

Many of the diagrams have multiple instances. For example, flow diagrams can take the form of flow process, blocks, algorithms (flow charts) or network diagrams. Likewise, window diagrams take on many different forms, including strength/weakness/opportunity/threat (SWOT), quad matrices (such as the "Boston Matrix"). This extends the 14 core diagrams into many more because of the variations, with all of the major ones discussed in this book.

What I especially like is the way the author presents each diagram: overview of the diagram, business application, business purpose and summary and conventions. When variations are discussed, such as a critical path network diagram derived from a flow, the same treatment is given.

As I read through this book familiarizing myself with these basic tools I discovered that my primary software tool, Visio, contained stencil sets for many of these diagrams, including Mind Mapping, SWOT Fishbone and many more. I also liked the final part of the book because it contains valuable advice on managing information with the core diagrams - especially developing diagrams that convey information instead of resulting in information overload. The chapter on diagramming theory and some of its pitfalls was also excellent. Finally, Appendices A and B, only two pages, are incredibly useful because they map the core diagrams to themes (Appendix A) and to management activity (Appendix B). These make selecting the right tool for the right job easy, and their inclusion is a nice touch of added value.

I cannot praise this book highly enough. It has quickly become one of my most valuable tools and has also enlightened me on a number of issues and factors related to effectively selecting and using diagrams. It merits 5 stars!

55 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent reference to graphical representation, March 2, 2001

By 

Amrit Tiwana "www.bus.iastate.edu/tiwana" (Decatur, Georgia, USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Thinking Visually: Business Applications of 14 Core Diagrams (Paperback)

This is an excellent book of templates for graphical visulization of complex information. I think that this book belongs right on the bookshelf of anyone who uses line graphics for research and business...right next to Tufte's classics. Highly recommended.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Nice introduction, if you know nothing about diagrams, May 9, 2010

By 

Andre Paulino De Lima "A Brazilian Citzen" (Sao Paulo, SP Brazil) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Thinking Visually: Business Applications of 14 Core Diagrams (Paperback)

I just read it. Nice introduction on the subject. If you know nothing about diagraming techniques, it will serve you well. If you know how to embed syntax in a diagram (or have an inkling on how to do it), this book is not for you.