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Flow charts. When it is appropriate to use and what are its advantages. Brandon Zimmerman. When to use a flow chart. Flow charts are best used when you have a story to tell Especially when that story would best be explained by visualizing the individual stages of the process.
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Flow charts When it is appropriate to use and what are its advantages Brandon Zimmerman
When to use a flow chart • Flow charts are best used when you have a story to tell • Especially when that story would best be explained by visualizing the individual stages of the process
Visualizing the previous slide • To help visualize the process involved in the last slide I have created the following flow chart Yes Make a flowchart Have a story to tell? Start No Use something else instead
Advantages of flow charts • Flow charts are easy to understandand easy to follow (just follow the arrows!) • They describe the flow of an entire process from start to finish where other types of visuals do not • Complex processes are simplified by using flowcharts • They can provide in-order instructions on how to do something
Flow chart vs Blurb of text • Imagine you have a very peculiar boss that likes to give weird directions and read the following blurb quickly: • Go into my office and if you happen to see a garden gnome on my desk grab it and give it to Jenny in Accounting. If you do not see one login on my computer, go purchase one on ebay, wait for it to arrive and then place it on my desk. Repeat this process until Jenny has the garden gnome.
What did you just say? • With the blurb of text did you really even understand what the boss was asking you to do? • Were you able to fully visualize the process?
Flow Chart version • Here is the same thing in flow chart form Place it on my desk Start Go to my office Do you see a garden gnome on my desk? Yes Give it to Jenny in Accounting Wait for it to arrive No Login on my computer Buy a garden gnome on ebay
Did you notice the difference? • The flow chart was easier to comprehend • It made a very confusing and difficult process very simple to understand