For a current consulting engagement, we prepared a presentation for the management team to brainstorm various growth strategy options.   To facilitate this discussion, we created a decision tree diagram outlining the key decision points and the most viable options pivoting from each decision point.

I wanted to make this diagram especially intuitive.  So, I embedded an image of a tree with deep roots (that I found off Google Image) as backdrop to the slide.  See below.

To create this backdrop/watermark effect, I used a very simple technique.  After finding an appropriate image, I merely copied it into the slide and placed it behind a large white rectangle.  I then set the transparency of the white rectangle to 20% (under the ‘Format AutoShape’ properties window).  The transparent white box grayed out the image into the background.

If you would like to use this decision tree diagram in your business presentation, I’ve made it available for download here: Decision Tree PowerPoint template.  I realize I make a lot of one-time throw-away slides.  Might as well make them available for download on this site, right?

By the way, you can download a free PowerPoint plugin called Flevy Tools that creates commonly used consulting diagrams here: http://flevy.com/powerpoint-plugin.  Flevy Tools allows you to dynamically generate Gantt Charts, Harvey Ball diagrams, approach diagrams, and other diagrams.  For the time being, it’s a completely free download.

Questions, thoughts, concerns?  Go to my site (learnppt.com) and shoot me an email.

For pre-made PowerPoint diagrams used in business presentations and other powerpointing needs, browse our library here: learnppt.com/powerpoint/.  These diagrams were professionally designed by management consultants. Give your presentations the look and feel of a final product made by McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Booz Allen, Deloitte, or any of the top consulting firms.

A diamond diagram or a segment diagram is a very useful and flexible diagram.  You can use them to illustrate anything that has multiple contributing components.  The powerpointing technique taught in this tutorial is a great one to have in your growing PowerPoint diagramming skill set.

Here are some examples of situations that can be intuitively portrayed using diamond diagrams:

• Multi-departmental collaboration – Product X’s product launch requires input from Product Development, Marketing, Sales, and Partners

• Multi-pronged sales strategy – Product X’s go-to-market strategy includes Selling to China, Moving from SMB to Enterprise, Cross-selling with Product Y, Attacking the Financial Vertical, and Attacking the Healthcare Vertical

• A product’s value proposition – Product X’s value proposition includes Water Conservation, Energy Savings, Durability, Compact Size, and Time Savings.

Now, there’s an incredibly easy way to create a Diamond Diagram in PowerPoint!

First, create a chart in PowerPoint and change the ‘Chart Type’ to ‘Radar Chart.’

Next, modify the chart values.  First, only leave 2 rows of data.  Then, create as many columns as you would like segments.  In our example, we will create a diamond with 5 segments.  For the first row, set all the values to 1.  For the second, set all the values to 2.  UPDATE – The screenshot below is from PowerPoint 2003.  For PowerPoint 2007 and 2010, the datasheet format is vertical–not horizontal (like you see in the image below). Therefore, you must input your values vertically (i.e. 1s and 2s in the same columns, not rows)

Next, change the line color for both of the data lines to black.  Then, format the chart such that you remove the axis labels and set both the major and minor units to 1.

Your chart should now look like this.  We pretty much have it.

I’m going to do some formatting, including replacing the inner section with a Pentagon AutoShape.

There we have it — a quick and easy powerpointing trick to create a Diamond or Segment Diagram using Radar Charts in PowerPoint.

Here are a couple more Diamond Diagrams with a different number of sides:

You can download the above slides from LearnPPT @ http://learnppt.com/downloads/diamonds/

If you are looking a larger variety of Segment Powerpoint templates, pre-built and ready to use, check out the Relationship, Segment, and Network Diagrams PowerPoint Pack:

http://learnppt.com/powerpoint/13_Relationship%2C-Segment%2C-%26-Network-Diagrams.php

Also, you can download a free PowerPoint plugin called Flevy Tools that creates commonly used consulting diagrams here: http://flevy.com/powerpoint-plugin.  Flevy Tools allows you to dynamically generate Gantt Charts, Harvey Ball diagrams, approach diagrams, and other diagrams.  For the time being, it’s a completely free download.

Questions, thoughts, concerns?  Go to my site (learnppt.com) and shoot me an email.

For pre-made PowerPoint diagrams used in business presentations and other powerpointing needs, browse our library here: learnppt.com/powerpoint/.  These diagrams were professionally designed by management consultants. Give your presentations the look and feel of a final product made by McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Booz Allen, Deloitte, or any of the top consulting firms.