The delta chart: A method for R&D project portrayal

Abstract

Flow charts and network methods are vital tools used to facilitate clear concise planning and scheduling of large projects. The limited flexibility and vocabulary of existing tools do not suit the planning and depicting of research and development (R&D) projects. DELTA charts described in this paper have been designed to incorporate not only events and activities but also decision and logic functions that enable representation of alternative approaches and feedback paths, both of which are essential in R&D project planning. A precise syntax for the DELTA chart components is defined in order to make them capable of presenting a clear precise picture that is self-explanatory to a wide audience. Two examples of DELTA charts are presented, the first of which is a DELTA chart that indicates the procedure for making a DELTA chart.