Galaxy Charts: The 1,000-Light-Year View of the Data

This article presents a new kind of chart, called a Galaxy chart, which combines the strengths of other chart types. A Galaxy chart displays an entire Cost Element Structure on a single sheet of paper, showing all of the elements, their relationships, and their costs in a visually appealing way. Each child cost element is “in orbit” around its parent, with its children “in orbit” around their parent. The size of each cost element is directly proportional to its magnitude. Galaxy charts provide many insights. For instance, a single Galaxy chart displays the cost element structure hierarchy, the most significant cost elements, the least significant cost elements, the descending order of cost elements, and cost elements of equal value. This article will give an overview of the Galaxy chart concept, explain how to construct one, and explain a few of the insights that are available from the display insights that are typically difficult to gain without using a Galaxy chart.