Flow chart characteristics, symbols, examples

1321
David Holt

The Flowchart, Also known as an activity chart or flowchart, it is an organizing tool that allows people to more easily evaluate, improve, and communicate their ideas. It is a scheme that is used to describe the steps that must be followed when carrying out a project.

In other words, the flowchart is a graphical representation of a certain activity. This representation is graphic because people focus on drawing different symbols and within them they portray the processes that they will follow for their project.

Simple structure of a flow chart, with its most common symbols. Source: Cloker19 / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)

Flow diagrams are characterized by having a sequential order, since the different steps presented are chronologically related to each other. Likewise, the extension and design of these schemes are variable, as they depend on the topics or projects to be developed..

Finally, it should be noted that flowcharts are widely used in the fields of accounting, economics, cognitive psychology and computer science; although they are also used in academia and in everyday life.

Article index

  • 1 Characteristics of flowcharts
    • 1.1 Use simplification
    • 1.2 It is made in a short time
    • 1.3 Use symbology
  • 2 What is a flow chart for?
    • 2.1 Finding problems and identifying new solutions
    • 2.2 Provide information
    • 2.3 Organize your ideas
  • 3 Types of flowcharts
    • 3.1 Vertical
    • 3.2 Horizontal
    • 3.3 Mixed or panoramic
  • 4 Symbols in a flow chart
  • 5 How to make a flow chart?
    • 5.1 1- Define the topic or process
    • 5.2 2- Establish the scope of the process
    • 5.3 3- Identify the sub-processes or subtopics
    • 5.4 4- Establish decision points
  • 6 Examples of flow charts
    • 6.1 - For agriculture
    • 6.2 - Flow chart to play a cd
    • 6.3 - Flow chart to send a text message
    • 6.4 - Flow chart to know if an electric clock does not work
  • 7 References

Flowchart Features

Resort to simplification

One of the main purposes in creating a flow chart is for ideas to be briefly stated. For this reason, people use short sentences when describing processes. The purpose is that the stages of the project are understood by all participants.

It is made in a short time

After people indicate the processes their projects will follow, they focus on portraying them in an outline. However, it should be noted that -depending on the number of steps- some diagrams may take longer to complete than others..

Use symbology

The use of symbols allows the diagram to be understandable and have a certain order; In addition, it prevents confusing or repetitive ideas.

What is a flowchart for?

Simple flow chart to reach consensus

Flow charts are used to:

Finding problems and identifying new solutions

When describing the processes, people examine what are the drawbacks that can affect the development of the project; generally these problems are caused by the environment, the scarcity of some material or external decisions that in a way paralyze the activity.

However, thanks to these drawbacks, new ideas arise, since people - seeing the possible difficulties - look for other solutions so that the processes are completed in the established time. In this way, it is observed that flowcharts are important because they allow studying even the smallest detail.

Provide information

When making a flowchart, people aim to recall the information exposed in each process more quickly. This is possible because human beings link the ideas described with the symbols where they are portrayed; that is, the figures drawn make the project steps easily understood.

Organize ideas

At the moment of making a flow chart, people focus on analyzing and comparing the different processes in order to organize them sequentially. The objective is that the steps described have a logical structure so that people can identify possible risks and changes in their activities.

Types of flowcharts

There are 3 main types of flowcharts:

Vertical

The flow goes from top to bottom:

Example of a vertical flow chart, in this case to calculate the factorial of a number

Horizontal

The flow goes from left to right:

Horizontal flow chart model

Mixed or panoramic

The flow is vertical and horizontal:

Aeronautical Engineering Flow Chart

Symbols in a flow chart

The flow chart is made up of one or more processes and each of these steps must be represented in a different symbol; but the symbology is not selected by people, since it is in common use.

That is, there is a list of determined figures that was established in 1960 by the American National Standards Institute and approved in 1970 by the International Organization for Standardization. The most important symbols will be mentioned below:

Terminal

It has the shape of an oval and inside it are usually found the words beginning or end. This figure indicates where a process or thread begins and ends.

Entrance exit

It has the structure of a parallelogram. This symbol is used to indicate the input and output of data; its purpose is to show the results that are intended to be obtained.

Process

It is represented as a rectangle and within it the activity or operation to be executed is described.

Flow line

It is a long arrow; it is used to mark the sequential order of processes and threads. This line can be placed in any direction (up, down, right and left) and thanks to it the different steps of the project are joined.

Decision

This diamond-shaped figure - similar to a diamond - shows the two paths that can be followed during a process or thread. Therefore, within this symbol are the words Yes, not, true or fake.

Annotation

This symbol is placed to add some additional information about a process or sub-process, which is why it is represented as an open rectangle that joins -through a line- the process that it tries to explain.

Others

Defined process, page connector, off-page connector, explanatory note, file, line of communication, operation, or magnetic tape are other less common flowchart symbols..

How to make a flow chart?

Before exposing how this scheme is elaborated, it is convenient to emphasize that there are several types of flowcharts and each one has particular steps that adjust to the purposes of its creators; but -despite the differences that exist between them- when making any flow diagram it is necessary to focus on the following aspects:

1- Define the topic or process

The first step in making a flow chart is to define the theme or process to be represented. It is essential that people have a specific objective so that their schemes can move forward.

For example: Ana wants to write a book, but must specify the topic and genre of the work. So, she decides to write a text on the history of Colombia in 1920. In this way, Ana begins to structure her diagram, since she has already selected a valid process.

2- Establish the scope of the process

After people have a specific goal, they focus on detailing where their project will start and where it will end. Establishing the scope of the activity is important because it is the element that will mark the breadth of the diagram.

Look at it this way: after Ana writes her topic, she focuses on designating the trajectory of the project; Your outline will start the moment you start writing the text and will end when you finish writing it..

3- Identify the threads or subtopics

Once the scope is established, people examine what steps they need to take to meet the main objective; this is how they start to chronologically join the threads (or subtopics) with the process (or main topic).

This can be seen in Ana's flow diagram, who wonders what she should do to write her work and the answer is to look for information (this is the first thread); but where will you look for information? There are two new activities that are connected to the sub-process: the first is that you have to attend libraries and the second is that you have to interview a historian.

4- Establish decision points

After portraying and linking the different steps, people evaluate the processes and sub-processes in order to observe the different routes that they may have. At this point is when the decision symbols are placed, which indicate to the subjects which path to follow. After representing the processes and possibilities, the diagram is closed.

Finishing with Ana's scheme, she places a decision point in the third sub-process, which is to interview the historian: if she can talk to him, she will add her testimony to the text; if he cannot, he will only cite the documents that he studied in the libraries. Ana ends her flow chart with this phrase: finished book.

Examples of flow charts

- For agriculture

Flow chart used in agriculture

- Flow chart to play a cd

The processes to listen to a CD are: turn on the radio, open the playback tray, see if it is empty: if it is not, the previously placed CD is removed; if it is, the desired CD is inserted, the tray is closed and the play option is pressed.

- Flow chart for sending a text message

A flow chart to send a text message would be like this: open messaging, find the contact you want to write to, compose the message, select the send key: are you sure you want to forward the message? If you press yes, it is sent; if you press no, it is deleted.

- Flow chart to know if an electric clock does not work

This diagram would be done as follows: the clock is not working, is it possible that it is not plugged in? If it isn't, it plugs in; If it is, then something in the watch was damaged, can it be fixed? It cannot be fixed, you have to buy another watch.

References

  1. Brzovic, K. (2017). Flow diagram: story of its symbols. Retrieved on May 29, 2020 from cdt.ca.gov
  2. Hernández, G. (2011). History, types, and symbols of flowcharts. Retrieved on May 29, 2020 from lucidchart.com
  3. López, R. (2015). The flow chart as an academic and work tool. Retrieved on May 30, 2020 from areatecnologia.com
  4. Naranjo, L. (2018). What is a flowchart? Retrieved on May 29, 2020 from academiabestway.com
  5. Sánchez, D. (2019). Flowcharts: objectives, benefits and phases. Retrieved on May 30, 2020 from actualidadempresa.com
  6. Suárez, I. (2016). What is a process flow diagram or flowchart. Retrieved on May 30, 2020 from aiteco.com
  7. Rossi, T. (2019). Elaboration of a flow diagram. Retrieved on May 30, 2020 from oswego.edu
  8. Torres, I. (2017). Flow chart, an infallible tool to visualize and improve your processes. Retrieved on May 29, 2020 from iveconsultores.com

Yet No Comments