Flowcharts

Presented by:
Dang Yang
Nick Johansen
Lucas Tork
Arianne Walker
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Definition
Types and When to Use Each

Symbols and Their Significance

Tips to Effective Flowcharting

Potential Problems

Activity
 What is a flowchart?
A graphical representation of the
sequence of all operations,
movements, inspections, delays,
decisions, and storage activities of a
process.

okay, so what does that mean?...

A flowchart simply is
a picture that represents a
process
For example
The Process of Ordering a
Burger
 Types of Flowcharts
Functional flowchart
Process flowchart

Process flow description chart

Deployment flowchart

Top-Down flowchart

Detailed flowchart
 When To Use Each
Type Of Flow chart

Functional Chart

Focuses on how activities interact

with one another
 Process Flowchart

Displays the sequence of tasks that

make up an activity as well as the
relationships between the tasks
 http://www.lion-
nathan.com.au/all+about+drinks/all+about+beer/process+fl
owchart/process+flowchart.htm
Process Flow Description Chart

Displays each task in detail, showing

the number of operations
the amount of storage
and the time
required to complete and activity
 Deployment Flowchart

Displays who does what and when

A Deployment Flowchart shows the actual
process flow and identifies the people or
groups involved at each step . Horizontal
lines define customer-supplier
relationships.
This type of chart shows where the
people or groups fit into the process
sequence, and how they relate to one
another throughout the process.

 Top-down Flowchart

Displays major steps and sub-steps

in a work process
 Detailed Flowchart
Displays the sequential order of
occurrences and decisions in a work
setting
Flowchart Symbols and
Their Significance
The different symbols found in
flowcharts represent a set of
instructions.

Each box or shape has its own

function
Basic Flowcharting Symbols

Used to signify
the start or
end of a
flowchart

Used to give
instructions

Used when
a decision
needs to be
made
 More Symbols
Start/End
The terminator symbol marks the starting or ending point of the system. It usually
contains the word "Start" or "End."
Action or Process
A box can represent a single step ("add two cups of flour"), or and entire sub-
process ("make bread") within a larger process.
Document
A printed document or report.

Decision
A decision or branching point. Lines representing different decisions emerge from
different points of the diamond.
Input/Output
Represents material or information entering or leaving the system, such as
customer order (input) or a product (output).
Connector
Indicates that the flow continues where a matching symbol (containing the same
letter) has been placed.

Flow Line
Lines indicate the sequence of steps and the direction of flow.
Delay
Indicates a delay in the process.

Merge
Indicates a step where two or more sub-lists or sub-processes become one.
Collate
Indicates a step that orders information into a standard format.

Sort
Indicates a step that organizes a list of items into a sequence or sets based on some
pre-determined criteria.
Subroutine
Indicates a sequence of actions that perform a specific task embedded within a larger process.
This sequence of actions could be described in more detail on a separate flowchart.
Manual Loop
Indicates a sequence of commands that will continue to repeat until stopped manually.

Loop Limit
Indicates the point at which a loop should stop.

Data storage
Indicates a step where data gets stored.

Database
Indicates a list of information with a standard structure that allows for searching and sorting.

Display
Indicates a step that displays information.

Off Page
Indicates that the process continues off page.
More Examples
 7 Tips for an Effective
Flowchart

1) Label each flowchart with a title identifying

the process that it illustrates. (For example:
"Order Entry Process")
2) Clearly indicate the starting and ending
points of the process, using the standard
terminator symbols.
3) Keep the direction of flow consistent. Avoid
confusion by keeping your flow lines moving
from top to bottom and left to right. Don't
reverse the direction in the chart unless the
flow reverses itself in reality.
4) Break the steps down to a consistent level
of detail. Don't include trivial sub-steps of one
task while treating another equivalent task as
a whole. If one step or task needs to be
analyzed in detail, make a separate chart
illustrating that sub-
process.
5) Avoid crossing flow lines. In a well-
designed chart, flow lines will not cross each
other. By rearranging a chart you can usually
get rid of crossed lines. If two lines must
cross, use a "bridge" (also known as a "line
hop") to show that the lines do not intersect
6) Make sure there are at least two
outcomes from every decision diamond.
7) Label your flowchart components. Use
active verbs to label activity steps and
questions to label decisions. Clearly label
the outcomes from a decision diamond in
terms that answer the question.
 Problems with
flowcharts
Too large = hard to follow
 Symbols may cause confusion
 A different type may be more
effective
http://familydoctor.org/x2568.xml?printxml
 Is often used as the best
reference
Activity!!!!
 summary
A flowchart is a visual representation
of a process
There are six main types of flowcharts

The shapes on flowcharts are symbolic

There are seven ways to ensure an

effective flowchart
There are pros and cons to using

flowcharts
 References
T. E. Harris & J. C. Sherblom (1992). Small group & team
communication (2nd de), Boston: Allyn & Bacon
SkyMark Corporation. 25 Sep. 2005.
http://www.skymark.com/resources/tools/flowchart.asp
M. Pinkney (2005). Flowcharts.
http://www.gcseguide.co.uk/flow_charts.html
University of Regina, California. 27 Sep. 2005.
http://www.cs.uregina.ca