Flowcharts

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Flowcharts
Presented by Dang Yang Nick Johansen Lucas
Tork Arianne Walker
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Preview

• Definition
• Types and When to Use Each
• Symbols and Their Significance
• Tips to Effective Flowcharting
• Potential Problems
• Activity

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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?...

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

• Functional flowchart
• Process flowchart
• Process flow description chart
• Deployment flowchart
• Top-Down flowchart
• Detailed flowchart

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When To Use Each Type Of Flow chart

• Functional Chart
• Focuses on how activities interact with one
  another

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• Process Flowchart
• Displays the sequence of tasks that make up an
  activity as well as the relationships between the
  tasks

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http//www.lion-nathan.com.au/allaboutdrinks/all
aboutbeer/processflowchart/processflowchart.ht
m
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• 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

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• Deployment Flowchart
• Displays who does what and when

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• Top-down Flowchart
• Displays major steps and sub-steps in a work
  process

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• Detailed Flowchart

Displays the sequential order of occurrences and
decisions in a work setting
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Flowchart Symbols and Their Significance

• The different symbols found in flowcharts
  represent a set of instructions.
• Each box or shape has its own function

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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
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More Symbols
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More Examples
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7 Tips for an Effective Flowchart
1) Label each flowchart with a title identifying
the process that it illustrates. (For example
"Order Entry Process")
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2) Clearly indicate the starting and ending
points of the process, using the standard
terminator symbols.
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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.
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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.                                 
                               
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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
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6) Make sure there are at least two outcomes from
every decision diamond.
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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.
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Problems with flowcharts

• Too large hard to follow

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• Symbols may cause confusion

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• A different type may be more effective

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• Is often used as the best reference

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Activity!!!!
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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

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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.a
  sp
• M. Pinkney (2005). Flowcharts. http//www.gcseguid
  e.co.uk/flow_charts.html
• University of Regina, California. 27 Sep. 2005.
  http//www.cs.uregina.ca

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Thank You!