When it is appropriate to use and what are its advantages
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
To help visualize the process involved in the last slide I have created the following flow chart Start Have a story to tell? Make a flowchart Use something else instead Yes No
Flow charts are easy to understand and 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
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.
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?
Here is the same thing in flow chart form Start Do you see a garden gnome on my desk? Give it to Jenny in Accounting Yes No Go to my office Login on my computer Buy a garden gnome on ebay Wait for it to arrive Place it on my desk
The flow chart was easier to comprehend It made a very confusing and difficult process very simple to understand