Print or display the diagram you plan to show this customer. Answer each question honestly before modifying anything.
| Audit Question | Yes / Partially / No | Evidence or Note |
|---|---|---|
| Can a non-technical executive understand the business outcome in 30 seconds? | ||
| Is there a clear visual hierarchy: the most important element stands out? | ||
| Are there fewer than 12 distinct elements or components? | ||
| Is every acronym or technical term either explained or absent? | ||
| Does the diagram have a title that states the business outcome? | ||
| Is the color usage meaningful (not decorative)? | ||
| Are all lines and arrows directional and labeled? | ||
| Is there a "before" state that contextualizes the "after"? | ||
| Could this diagram be used by the customer to explain the project internally? |
Based on Mayer's Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning, high cognitive load diagrams cause audiences to stop processing and start defending. Measure your diagram's load.
Count every distinct element in your diagram (boxes, icons, labels, lines, swimlanes).
List every acronym visible in the diagram. Then list which ones a CFO or business sponsor would not know.
If you cover the title and legend, can someone identify the single most important element in 10 seconds? (Size, position, or color should communicate primacy.)
A single diagram is rarely right for all audiences. Document which version you have and which you need to create.
| Audience | Version Needed | Do you have it? | Key Difference from Current Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| C-Suite / Board | Business outcome diagram (3–5 elements) | ||
| VP / Director | Strategic architecture (8–12 elements) | ||
| Engineering team | Technical deep dive (full detail) | ||
| Procurement / Legal | Security and compliance view |
Write the 60-second verbal narration you would use to walk a non-technical executive through the diagram. No jargon. Start with the business outcome. End with what changes for the customer's customers.
List the specific changes you will make to the current diagram based on this audit. Be specific: "remove the NSG icons from the executive view" not "simplify."
| Current Element | Change | Reason |
|---|---|---|