Traffic Lights

Create multi-criteria comparison charts using traffic lights or Harvey balls. Use for option evaluation, competitive comparison, and executive dashboards.

Traffic Light Charts

Metadata

• Name: traffic-lights
• Description: Multi-criteria assessment visualization
• Triggers: traffic light, harvey ball, stoplight, RAG status, multi-criteria

Instructions

You are creating a traffic light chart to evaluate $ARGUMENTS.

Your task is to compare options across multiple criteria using a simple, visual format.

Framework

Visual Options

Traffic Lights (RAG)

text

🟢 Green = Good / On track / Above target
🟡 Yellow/Amer = Caution / At risk / Near target
🔴 Red = Bad / Off track / Below target

Harvey Balls (Half-moons)

text

○  Empty    = 0% / None / Very poor
◔  Quarter  = 25% / Below average
◑  Half     = 50% / Average
◕  Three-Q  = 75% / Above average
●  Full     = 100% / Excellent

Arrows

text

↑↑ Strong positive
↑   Positive
→   Neutral
↓   Negative
↓↓  Strong negative

When to Use Which

Chart Type	Best For
Traffic Lights	Status, progress, alerts
Harvey Balls	Gradual comparison, rating
Arrows	Trends, momentum
Stars	Customer ratings, reviews
Numbers	Precision needed

Standard Applications

1. Competitive Comparison - Us vs. competitors on key criteria
2. Option Evaluation - Compare alternatives for decision
3. Status Dashboard - Project/portfolio health
4. Gap Analysis - Current vs. desired state
5. Vendor Selection - Compare suppliers on requirements

Output Process

1. Define criteria - What dimensions matter?
2. Set scale - What does each color/symbol mean?
3. Gather data - Assess each option on each criterion
4. Apply ratings - Consistent methodology
5. Calculate overall - Summary score
6. Visualize - Create the chart
7. Annotate - Add context and insights
8. Interpret - Draw conclusions

Output Format

text

## Traffic Light Chart: [Subject]

### Assessment Criteria

| # | Criterion | Weight | Definition |
|---|-----------|--------|------------|
| 1 | [Criterion 1] | 20% | 🟢=X, 🟡=Y, 🔴=Z |
| 2 | [Criterion 2] | 15% | 🟢=X, 🟡=Y, 🔴=Z |
| 3 | [Criterion 3] | 25% | 🟢=X, 🟡=Y, 🔴=Z |
| 4 | [Criterion 4] | 15% | 🟢=X, 🟡=Y, 🔴=Z |
| 5 | [Criterion 5] | 10% | 🟢=X, 🟡=Y, 🔴=Z |
| 6 | [Criterion 6] | 15% | 🟢=X, 🟡=Y, 🔴=Z |
|   | **Total** | **100%** | |

---

### Traffic Light Matrix

| Criterion | Option A | Option B | Option C | Option D |
|-----------|----------|----------|----------|----------|
| **1. [Criterion 1]** | 🟢 | 🟡 | 🟢 | 🔴 |
| **2. [Criterion 2]** | 🟡 | 🟢 | 🟡 | 🟡 |
| **3. [Criterion 3]** | 🟢 | 🔴 | 🟢 | 🟢 |
| **4. [Criterion 4]** | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟡 | 🟡 |
| **5. [Criterion 5]** | 🟡 | 🟢 | 🔴 | 🟢 |
| **6. [Criterion 6]** | 🔴 | 🟡 | 🟢 | 🟡 |
| **OVERALL** | 🟢 | 🟡 | 🟢 | 🟡 |

**Legend:**
- 🟢 Green = Strong / Meets requirements
- 🟡 Yellow = Moderate / Partially meets
- 🔴 Red = Weak / Does not meet

---

### Scoring (Optional Quantitative)

| Criterion | Weight | Option A | Option B | Option C | Option D |
|-----------|--------|----------|----------|----------|----------|
| 1. [Criterion] | 20% | 3 (0.6) | 2 (0.4) | 3 (0.6) | 1 (0.2) |
| 2. [Criterion] | 15% | 2 (0.3) | 3 (0.45) | 2 (0.3) | 2 (0.3) |
| 3. [Criterion] | 25% | 3 (0.75) | 1 (0.25) | 3 (0.75) | 3 (0.75) |
| 4. [Criterion] | 15% | 3 (0.45) | 3 (0.45) | 2 (0.3) | 2 (0.3) |
| 5. [Criterion] | 10% | 2 (0.2) | 3 (0.3) | 1 (0.1) | 3 (0.3) |
| 6. [Criterion] | 15% | 1 (0.15) | 2 (0.3) | 3 (0.45) | 2 (0.3) |
| **WEIGHTED TOTAL** | **100%** | **2.45** | **2.15** | **2.50** | **2.15** |
| **RANK** | | **2nd** | **3rd** | **1st** | **3rd** |

*Scale: 1=Red, 2=Yellow, 3=Green*

---

### Alternative: Harvey Ball Format

| Criterion | Option A | Option B | Option C | Option D |
|-----------|----------|----------|----------|----------|
| **1. [Criterion]** | ● | ◑ | ● | ◔ |
| **2. [Criterion]** | ◑ | ● | ◑ | ◑ |
| **3. [Criterion]** | ● | ○ | ● | ◑ |
| **4. [Criterion]** | ● | ● | ◑ | ◑ |
| **5. [Criterion]** | ◑ | ● | ◔ | ● |
| **6. [Criterion]** | ◔ | ◑ | ● | ◑ |
| **OVERALL** | ◕ | ◑ | ● | ◑ |

**Legend:**
- ○ None (0%) | ◔ Quarter (25%) | ◑ Half (50%) | ◕ Three-Q (75%) | ● Full (100%)

---

### Pattern Analysis

**Strengths by Option**

| Option | Key Strengths | Key Weaknesses |
|--------|---------------|----------------|
| Option A | [Criterion 1, 3, 4] | [Criterion 6] |
| Option B | [Criterion 2, 4, 5] | [Criterion 3] |
| Option C | [Criterion 1, 3, 6] | [Criterion 5] |
| Option D | [Criterion 1, 3, 5] | [Criterion 1] |

**Patterns Observed**
1. [Pattern 1 - e.g., "All options score well on Criterion 4"]
2. [Pattern 2 - e.g., "Criterion 3 shows largest differentiation"]
3. [Pattern 3 - e.g., "No option scores green on all criteria"]

---

### Recommendation

**Top Choice: [Option C]**
- Rationale: [Why this option]
- Trade-offs: [What we give up]

**Runner-up: [Option A]**
- When to consider: [Situations where this is better]

**Not Recommended: [Option D]**
- Why not: [Key deficiencies]

Tips

• Define criteria before rating - don't retrofit
• Be consistent - same assessor or calibrated team
• Don't have too many criteria (6-10 is optimal)
• Weight criteria by importance
• Use supporting data in appendix
• The overall score should be a guide, not a rule
• Patterns matter more than individual cells
• Document the rationale for each rating

References

• Few, Stephen. Information Dashboard Design. 2006.
• Tufte, Edward. Beautiful Evidence. 2006.