When is it especially helpful to illustrate a process or procedure with a flowchart?
This is a great question, there are many ways we can use diagrams and maps to make information easier to process visually. A flowchart is a diagram depicting a process, a system or a computer algorithm. It is a diagrammatic representation of the solution to a given problem but, more importantly, it provides a breakdown of the essential steps to solving the problem. When designing and planning a process, flowcharts can help you identify its essential steps and
simultaneously offer the bigger picture of the process. It organises the tasks in chronological order and identify them by type, e.g. process, decision, data, etc. Each step is independent of implementation as the flowchart only describes what should happen at that step, what input is needed and what the output of the step is but it says nothing about how to implement the step. Once a flowchart is in place, it can help find less obvious features of the process that can then be
refined to improve its efficiency, i.e. bottlenecks, flaws, unnecessary steps. It should be seen as an evolving diagram. Flowcharts are limited in what they can represent and are usually employed alongside other types of diagrams. They do have historical importance. They were first introduced in 1921 as flow process chart to members of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and were popular in early computing in the 50s.
Visual Programming Languages used in computing are sophisticated flowcharts. There is a brilliant commentary on flowcharts by xkcd: Readability is probably the most important aspect of a flowchart. As the diagrammatic
representation of a process, the flowchart aims to offer a visual description of a process to help us understand what is going on. However flowcharts can get a bit out of control and you can end up with something so complicated that it defeats the purpose of having one.
A Guide to FlowchartsFlowcharts are one of the most commonly used diagrams to represent a process or workflow. They describe a process with a fixed sequence of working steps and illustrate complex processes step by step in a comprehensible shape.
The history of flowchartsThe first flowcharts were documented in 1921. Two industrial engineers from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) presented a process diagram based on graphs – the flowchart we know today. The use of the diagram increased steadily, resulting in the creation of the first so-called "symbol set systems" with process diagrams for flowcharts in 1947. Over time, a common symbolism for creating this type of diagram became established and continues to this day. A century after its creation, the flow chart remains a favorite method for creating sequence descriptions and defining tasks.
Flowchart symbolsFlowcharts specify various shapes and (flow) elements that are used to visually represent workflows. For people unfamiliar with the subject, the use of the various shapes may seem arbitrary at first glance, however all icons stand for very specific components of a process. While detailed flow charts such as a program flowchart require a large number of symbols, simple business processes can be described with just a few shapes. Special flowchart software such as BIC Process Design have an extensive selection of icons and make it possible to create process flowcharts easily and quickly. In contrast to applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, where the representation of process flows in a diagram has to be configured manually, professional flowchart software solutions offer corresponding flow chart templates for a quick capture of sequences. In BIC Process Design, for example, charts can be created with a simple drag and drop of the required shape from the symbol panel to the desired location in the editor. In the following you will see an overview of the most common shapes as well as suitable flowchart examples for better clarification: Start/end
symbol Data icon (input/output)
Process/activity
icon Connecting arrow Decision
symbol The chart symbols described above serve a uniform structure of the processes and ensure a common understanding of the diagram. Depending on the objective and scope of the diagram, other shapes and symbols can also be used, as well as non-standardized forms. In practice, however, you should avoid an excessive use of different symbols in the chart and pay attention to a continuous use of the shapes in order to maintain consistency and process understanding for your team members.
Types of process flowchartsDue to a wide range of use cases, there are different types of flowcharts. Let us take a closer look at the three most common types of diagrams: Superior flowchart Swimlane diagrams (cross-functional diagram) Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN)
Checklist for creating your flowchartWhen modeling process flows using flow chart templates, the following modeling rules need to be observed:
Advantages of using flowchartsUsing flowchart templates to illustrate workflows has many advantages, especially for companies with complex processes:
Which software tools are suitable to create a flowchart?While the first process representations, for example in computer science classes, are usually still configured manually using diagrams in a Word document, Excel or PowerPoint, companies largely use special software for this purpose. Here, a distinction must be made between free flowchart maker and professional flowchart software such as BIC Process Design. Modeling flowchart software like BIC Process Design make it possible to visualize complex processes quickly and easily with the help of an extensive selection of diagram types and symbols as well as an easy-to-use user interface. Integrated conformance checks ensure a consistent representation and uncover errors in the process chain. Procedures such as inserting, modifying, formatting, or deleting objects are all done in one click. With the integrated portal, all users have access to the released processes and are automatically informed by the software in case of changes in the flowchart tool. Collaboration functions enable easy exchange between the process participants and support a continuous improvement process. This is additionally strengthened by preconfigured reports and analyses that reliably reveal weak points and optimization potential. Automated governance workflows and integrated document and risk management ensure fully comprehensive and compliance control of your process flows. Online course: Process Mapping with BPMN
You are looking for a flowchart software to model your business processes? Then take a look at BIC Process Design!Use BIC Process Design and choose your favorite from our extensive set of modeling methods. Benefit from easy process capture, comprehensive analyses and a browser-based portal for all users.
Process Modeling with BIC Process DesignOur innovative BPM tool BIC Process Design ensures more transpareny and smooth work processes. Find out how easy it can be to model your processes, give access to them company-wide and jointly optimize workflows. Discover BIC Process Design
Test BIC Process Design 30 days for freeBIC Process Design impresses users worldwide with its unique user-friendliness and innovative design. Convince yourself of the powerful functionalities of our BPM software and model your first processes in our trial version. Test for free
Further resourcesWe have the information you need to unleash your full process potential. Take a look at our resources and start improving your business performance today. When would you use a flowchart?When to Use a Flowchart. To develop understanding of how a process is done.. To study a process for improvement.. To communicate to others how a process is done.. When better communication is needed between people involved with the same process.. To document a process.. When planning a project.. Why is a process flowchart useful?When designing and planning a process, flowcharts can help you identify its essential steps and simultaneously offer the bigger picture of the process. It organises the tasks in chronological order and identify them by type, e.g. process, decision, data, etc.
How flowchart help in making a decision in a situation or problem?The flowchart template will help you with the design and development of the decision-making process for your customers. This can be a helpful tool during your sales process. It helps to visualize your customer's decision-making process, making it easier to understand their needs and sell your products to them.
|