--- sourceDocument: Zurich Enterprise Architecture (formerly Application Portfolio Management) sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/zurich/application-portfolio-management Release : - zurich ft:locale : - en-US ft:publication_title : - Zurich Enterprise Architecture (formerly Application Portfolio Management) ft:clusterId : - appportman bundleId : - appportman workflow : - Technology --- # Bubble chart view of application rationalization # Bubble chart view of application rationalization {#ariaid-title1} * Release version: Zurich * * Updated July 31, 2025 * * ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 5 minutes to read Summarize ![AI sparkle icon](https://servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ai-sparkle-icon) Summarized using AI This content was generated using new OpenAI-powered functionality. Results are provided on an as is basis and are not guaranteed to be accurate or complete. ## Summary of Bubble chart view of application rationalization The bubble chart view in Application Rationalization provides an interactive graphical representation of business applications based on indicator scores. This visualization helps enterprise architects make informed decisions to invest in, sustain, migrate, or retire applications by positioning them across quadrants according to their scores. Customers can access this view by selecting the Application Rationalization icon and navigating to the Bubble chart tab. Show full answer Show less ## Key Features * **Customizable Indicators:** Customers can select which indicator scores to map on the X and Y axes and define bubble sizes to measure application alignment with business strategy. They can also create and attach custom application indicators to profiles for tailored analysis. * **Display and Filtering:** Only assessed and active business applications appear as bubbles. Applications marked as Retired or End of Life are excluded unless a system property is updated by the ServiceNow account manager. Filters and advanced search options help narrow down applications based on various criteria and these preferences are saved for future use. * **Bubble Grouping and Color Coding:** Applications with similar scores are grouped into a single bubble, which can be expanded to see individual applications. Bubble colors reflect the planned disposition of each application, aiding quick visual interpretation. * **Fiscal Periods and Data:** Scores default to the latest fiscal period but can be changed per user preference. The number of bubbles displayed defaults to 500, configurable via system properties. * **Interactive Actions:** From the bubble chart, users can create demands, set planned dispositions, and add lifecycle data directly for each business application through context menus. * **Zoom and Pan Functionality:** Users can zoom in/out and pan on the chart using on-screen controls, mouse, or trackpad for detailed exploration. Zoom resets and browser zoom options are supported without losing content or layout integrity. ## Practical Benefits for ServiceNow Customers This bubble chart view empowers customers to efficiently analyze their application portfolios, visualize strategic alignment, and prioritize rationalization efforts. By leveraging custom indicators and interactive controls, customers can tailor their analysis to meet organizational goals and streamline decision-making. The ability to perform actions such as creating demands or updating lifecycle data directly from the chart enhances productivity and fosters proactive application management. Bubble charts are interactive graphs that position applications in different quadrants, based on their indicator scores. Based on the position of the business application in the quadrants, enterprise architects can take decisions to invest in, sustain, migrate, or retire the business applications. Figure 1. Bubble chart view ## Overview of the bubble chart {#eaw-bubble-chart-view__section_dt2_lhd_fhc} Select the application rationalization icon (![Application rationalization icon.]()) and select the Bubble chart tab to view the bubble chart view of all business applications. Use the bubble chart to view indicator scores of business applications in the X and Y axes and specify the bubble sizes. You can use these scores to measure how your applications are aligned to your business strategy and then create demands for the applications. You can also create your own application indicators to analyze business applications in the bubble chart. For information on how to create custom application indicators, see [Add or edit an application indicator](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/UMqq_9~gPuu_sPhiDcyBUQ "Add or edit an application indicator to assess the application across dimensions such as cost, quality, technical risk, investments, user satisfaction, and business value."). Note: * The created indicator must also be attached to the default application profile. For information on how to attach new profile indicators with a scoring profile, see [Attach a profile indicator to a scoring profile](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/grxCjR3IA6xiCIxwRbqpaw "You must associate scoring profiles with profile indicators."). * If the created indicator isn't displayed in the bubble size list, verify that the indicator is active. For information on how to activate an indicator, see [Activate or turn off an application or capability indicator](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/h8Cw6vHHzV7wlRwqV2aoCA "Enable or disable application indicators according to your business requirements."). {#eaw-bubble-chart-view__ul_gsj_fyn_11c} You can also generate insights into business applications using Now Assist. For information, see [Generate insights into business applications](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/9K1pEA~VdXBgAEYMHgZrMQ "Learn the details of business applications and gather concise and actionable insights on business applications from the summary that is generated by ServiceNow Otto for Enterprise Architecture (EA). The business application insights are context-aware, that is the summary automatically includes relevant information from the specific page where you generate the insights."). ## Bubbles displayed on the chart {#eaw-bubble-chart-view__section_e11_rcd_fhc} The bubble chart displays only the assessed business applications. Also, business applications marked as Retired or in End of Life lifecycle stage aren't displayed on the Application Rationalization bubble chart page. However, you can view those business applications by updating the sn_apm_ws.business_application_default_filter system property. Contact your ServiceNow® account service manager to update the system property. Therefore, the number of bubbles displayed on the chart can be different from the number of business applications displayed on the list view page. The total number of business applications displayed as bubbles on the bubble chart page is displayed at the top of the chart. You can also select the bubble count details icon (![Bubble chart count details icon.]()) to view a detailed calculation of the number of bubbles displayed on the bubble chart page. ## Understanding the bubble chart {#eaw-bubble-chart-view__section_prk_jgd_fhc} The bubble chart page has the following components: * X and Y axes: Each axis represents a metric category. * Bubbles: Each labeled bubble represents a business application. Hover over a bubble to view an assessable record score summary. {#eaw-bubble-chart-view__ul_kjl_jch_yyb} On selecting a bubble, the business application data associated with that bubble is displayed in the info pane. Business application bubbles whose X and Y-axis values are within the value range of +/-0.25 of each other, are grouped. A grouped bubble displays the total number of business application bubbles that it contains. One selecting a grouped bubble, the info pane appears, displaying the list of individual business applications that are part of the grouped bubble. On selecting a particular business application card, the associated business application data is displayed in the info pane. The bubble color is dependent on the planned disposition value that was already set for the business application. You can refer to the legend displayed on the bubble chart to see the significance of each color. The bubbles are of different sizes, based on the indicator score values that you select. All the indicator scores are displayed according to the latest fiscal period, by default. The latest fiscal period is derived from the apm_app_indicator_score list. The duration of a fiscal period is derived from the system property com.glide.fiscal_calendar.fiscal_unit. You can also select a different fiscal period from the Scores for fiscal period list. Your fiscal period preferences are saved and applied the next time you visit the page. The bubble chart displays up to 500 bubbles representing business applications, by default. If you want to see more than 500 bubbles, you can configure the sn_apm_ws.appRationalizationMaximumBubbles system property. For details, see [Change the number of bubbles displayed on the bubble chart](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/wnjg0YSK5XPtZV6fJob0BA "Customize the sn_apm_ws.appRationalizationMaximumBubbles system property to change the number of bubbles displayed on the application rationalization bubble chart page."). You can use the available filters to reduce the number of business application bubbles displayed on-screen. You can use the advanced filter to find business applications by applying specific criteria, such as application details, application indicators and scores, and associated business capabilities. Your filter preferences are saved and applied the next time you visit the page. For more information, see [Apply filters on the Application Rationalization page](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/1fBIkQ5vZWXHwNClJfURRA "You can apply filters on the Application Rationalization page in the Enterprise Architecture Workspace. Based on the applied filters, the bubble chart and list view are updated so that you can view data for a specific business application. Your filter preferences are saved and applied the next time you visit the page."). ## Actions available on the bubble chart page {#eaw-bubble-chart-view__section_e43_rhd_fhc} You can perform the following by hovering over a bubble in the chart and then selecting the context menu: * Create a demand for a business application. For more information, see [Create a demand using the bubble chart](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/63eeNOa3CWZlNOBljMIwfg "Create a demand for an application from the bubble chart."). * Set the planned disposition of a business application. For more information, see [Set the planned disposition of a business application](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/7LPnzcRbAEyjlyue4qCH7w "Set the planned disposition of a business application to track decisions on the plan of the application."). * Add business application lifecycle data. For more information, see [Add business application lifecycle data using bubble chart](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/f9qn3DwbNLr91MKeBTb3LA "Create or edit the life cycle of a business application to manage the business application."). {#eaw-bubble-chart-view__ul_pk5_nch_yyb} ## Zoom or pan on the bubble chart {#eaw-bubble-chart-view__section_cvp_dsk_fhc} You can zoom in, zoom out, or pan on the bubble chart page using either on-screen buttons or by using a mouse device or trackpad interactions.{#eaw-bubble-chart-view__table_vtw_xtk_fhc__entry__4} | Interaction Method | Zoom in | Zoom out | Pan | |-|-|-|-| | On-screen button | Select the zoom in icon (![Zoom in icon.]()) Note: Select the zoom reset icon (![Zoom reset icon.]()) to reset to the default zoom level. | Select the zoom out icon (![Zoom out icon.]()) Note: Select the zoom reset icon (![Zoom reset icon.]()) to reset to the default zoom level. | Not applicable | | Track pad | * Place the cursor on a specific point on the bubble chart and double click on the trackpad * Select an area on the bubble chart {#eaw-bubble-chart-view__ul_hnz_fxr_yhc} | Select the zoom out icon (![Zoom out icon.]()) Note: Select the zoom reset icon (![Zoom reset icon.]()) to reset to the default zoom level. | Press and hold Shift key and then click and move the cursor Note: For the pan functionality to work, you must be zoomed in on a particular area on the bubble chart. | | Mouse device | * Double click on a particular section of the chart * Select an area on the bubble chart {#eaw-bubble-chart-view__ul_gvt_hqr_yhc} | Select the zoom out icon (![Zoom out icon.]()) Note: Select the zoom reset icon (![Zoom reset icon.]()) to reset to the default zoom level. | Press and hold Shift key and then click and move the cursor Note: For the pan functionality to work, you must be zoomed in on a particular area on the bubble chart. | [Table 1. Bubble chart screen interactions] {#eaw-bubble-chart-view__table_vtw_xtk_fhc} Note: You can zoom on this page to 200% or 400% through your browser settings without the loss of content or functionality. Page layouts are transformed into a vertical, stacked view automatically. **Related tasks** * [Analyze applications using the bubble chart](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/aoUlNxT1igQd1x30XRAVNA "Consolidate and analyze the business applications based on multiple scores.") * [Generate insights into business applications](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/9K1pEA~VdXBgAEYMHgZrMQ "Learn the details of business applications and gather concise and actionable insights on business applications from the summary that is generated by ServiceNow Otto for Enterprise Architecture (EA). The business application insights are context-aware, that is the summary automatically includes relevant information from the specific page where you generate the insights.")