Explanations
 

The software I used

      The software I used to design the organigram is Powerpoint97. Since I have a Chinese version of it , it is easier for me to understand how to handle it. Fortunately I found it is very efficient to use. It allows me to realize what I imagine with all its practical tools.

      And then I saved it in the format of GIF. Thus it can be seen in PaintShop Pro. and then I pasted it as an image in the Netscape editor.

The elements I transformed

      According to the verbal description of l’Université Ouverte hollandaise, I imagined it as a tree. First of all, the roots---Conseil de l’Université, Comité exécutif. I think they are very important sections of the university, because they are in charge of making policies and then putting them into actions. So it is them who guide the university and provide it with "nutrition", just like the roots of a tree. Secondly, the branches---Facultés, Instituts de recherches, conseil participatif, centre de ressources. And then the twigs---Collège de professeurs and the research centers ( COP, OTIC, OuE and E&I ).

      I have also thought of the fruits and leaves ( students and research achievements, i.e. publications, etc.). But since in the verbal description, they are not mentioned, I didn’t add them in the organigram.

The visual variables

      I used the following visual variables :

Syntax

      In organizing the different elements of the organigram and bearing in mind that it is like a tree, I put them in a hierarchical order ( the bold double-arrows show it).

      In the lowest part of the organigram is the root--- Conseil de l’université and Comité exécutif. The Comité execute what the Conceil has decided and thus guide the subordinate institutions.

      The middle part shows the branches---Facultés, Instituts de recherches, conseil participatif, centre de ressources. Although they are independent institutions of the university, they are interrelated ( the thin double-arrows show this ).

      The last part is the twigs---Collège de professeurs and the research centers ( COP, OTIC, OuE and E&I ). The teachers are the main staff in the faculties. They play the most important role. Their time-table is shown in a big rectangle and the proportion of their time is shown by dividing the rectangle into three parts accordingly.

      The other big rectangle shows the different research centers of the Institut de recherches. I think they have equal importance, so I distribute them evenly in the rectangle.

The difficulties and solutions : conversion

      Since I have difficulties in understanding French, I spent quite a lot of time in understanding the verbal description. Still there are some parts I don’t quite understand, e.g. the relationships between the different organizations. So I just imagined the way that I have designed the organigram. I have drown several schemas to try to find a reasonable relationship between the different elements. At last I decided that all of them are interrelated. So I used double-arrows to illustrate it and by using the different thickness of the arrows I want to convey the difference of the relationships.

The difficulties and solutions : design

      At first, I wanted to show the organigram in 3 dimensions. But it is hard to handle the different forms and then try to link them together in Powerpoint97. Within so limited a time I found it is really time-wasting to do that. At last I decided to create a simpler one which is good enough to convey my ideas.