Which diagram is used to illustrate primary and secondary adjacencies between major work groups or departments?

• A. Organizational Chart
• B. Flow Diagram
• C. Process Map
• D. Bubble Diagram

Answer: (D)

Visualizing how major work groups relate spatially is most effectively done with a bubble diagram. In this approach, each department or function is represented by a bubble, and the diagram shows which bubbles should sit close to one another. The proximity of bubbles communicates primary adjacencies—the areas that need to be near each other for frequent, high-priority interactions—and secondary adjacencies for relationships that are useful but not critical. This makes it a powerful early planning tool for facility layout, allowing teams to experiment with different configurations before committing to precise floor plans.

This differs from an organizational chart, which focuses on reporting lines rather than physical placement; a flow diagram, which maps the sequence of steps in a process; and a process map, which details activities and decision points in a workflow. The bubble diagram is specifically about illustrating and testing spatial relationships between departments.