The time allocation pie chart lets people show how their time or effort is split across a set of activity categories. They enter their figures and the review renders them as a clear pie chart. By the end of this guide you will know what the input is, when to choose it over the other input types, how to set it up, and what your people will see in their review.
What the time allocation pie chart is and when to use it
The time allocation input captures how a person's time is divided across activity categories you define — for example client work, practice management, business development, and firm-wide roles. The participant enters their figures and the review displays them as a pie chart. It is a standard review input (no custom development required) and it renders cleanly on screen and in the PDF report.
A common pattern is to have people enter a total figure and then allocate it across the categories, which produces more consistent, comparable data than entering each category independently. Reach for it when you want a structured, visual breakdown of time or effort.
Example use cases
Ask partners to show planned versus actual time across practice areas for the year.
Capture how leaders split time between client work, leadership and business development.
Compare time allocation across a cohort of partners to inform workforce planning.
Bring last year's allocation through as a starting point for this year's plan.
Choosing between the time allocation pie chart and other input types
Reviews support several specialised input types. The time allocation pie chart is the right choice when you need to split a total across categories and show it visually.
Input type | Best for | How it appears |
Imported data | Single, user-specific values placed flexibly | A standard field anywhere in the form |
Financial data table | Several related metrics shown together | A fixed table in the financial section |
Pie chart (time allocation) | Splitting total hours across activity categories | An interactive chart the user completes |
Competency rating grid | Rating capabilities from a role's framework | A grid of competencies scored against a scale |
Configuring the time allocation pie chart
Setup happens in the review builder.
1. Add the time allocation field
In the review builder, open the page where you want the chart and drag a Time Allocation field into a Section.
2. Define your categories and colours
Add a label for each activity category. Assign a consistent colour to each category so the same activity always appears in the same colour across users and reports, which makes visual comparison possible. Add a tooltip to a category where it helps to clarify what it includes.
3. Set how values are entered
Decide whether people enter a total and allocate across categories, or enter each category directly. A value is required in every category, so people enter zero where an activity does not apply.
Settings reference
Setting | What it does | How to use it |
Time Allocation field | The input that renders as a pie chart | Drag it into a section in the review builder |
Activity categories | The segments people allocate across | Add one label per activity area |
Category colours | The colour of each segment and legend entry | Keep colours consistent across categories for comparison |
Tooltips | Short explanations of what a category includes | Add where a category needs clarifying |
What the reviewee sees
An interactive pie chart within the form. The participant enters their figures across the categories and the chart updates as they go. A value is required in every category, and they enter zero where nothing applies. The legend shows each category in its assigned colour. In the PDF report, the chart appears with the same colours and labels.
Prerequisites and common pitfalls
Every box needs a value: ask people to enter zero rather than leaving categories blank.
Keep colours consistent: assign a fixed colour per category so comparisons across people hold up.
Define categories before launch: changing them mid-cycle affects data already entered.
Selecting a legend entry hides that segment: brief users if they may click the legend.
Tips and testing
Preview or proxy in as a user to confirm the chart renders and the totals add up.
Check the PDF report shows the chart with the correct colours and labels.
Confirm number formatting (such as thousands separators) looks right.
If bringing prior-year figures through, check they pull in correctly.
Where to next
Using imported data in reviews
Financial tables vs imported data to show external data
Questions, or want this reviewed against our guide standard? Contact the CX team.