California IDEX Practice Exam

Overall department relationships of a large company being planned to occupy a multistory building would most likely be shown in...

1. block diagram

2. adjacency matrix

3. stacking diagram

4. bubble diagram

The correct answer is: stacking diagram

The correct answer is a stacking diagram because it visually represents how different departments relate to one another within a multistory building. A stacking diagram organizes departments in layers, indicating not only their physical placement within the building but also how they interact with one another based on overall company dynamics. This allows planners to identify synergies or operational efficiencies among departments, facilitating collaboration or workflow considerations in a multistory design context. Other options serve different purposes. A block diagram illustrates functional relationships but doesn’t provide spatial context. An adjacency matrix captures the relationships between departments quantitatively but is less intuitive for visualizing their arrangement. A bubble diagram shows spatial relationships and general sizes, but it may not convey the structural layering of departments in a multistory building as effectively as a stacking diagram.