1. Rob Gleasure R.Gleasure@ucc.ie www.robgleasure.com
IS3320 Developing and Using Management Information Systems Lecture 11: Flow-Charts 1
Rob Gleasure

2. IS3320 Today’s lecture What is a flowchart?
Why would we use a flowchart?
When would we use a flowchart?
What notation is used in a flowchart?
How do we draw a flowchart from some narrative?
Exercise

3. What is a Flowchart?
Takes an algorithm (process) and illustrates it with a set of graphical symbols
In other words, a visualisation of some process

4. Why would we use a Flowchart?
Many of the same reasons we create use cases
Ability to stay user-centred in our design
Ability to communicate
Ability to abstract
Ability to tie testing back to key requirements
The also let us
Decompose and communicate processes with a little more sophistication than just sequencing them out in text form
Plan out how an application will actually run to address the various use cases
Spot redundancies, bottlenecks and circular processes

5. When would we use a Flowchart?
Useful during both analysis and design stages
During analysis it lets you try to figure out the ‘as-is’ behaviour that you may be seeking to replace. It also creates a useful way of exploring a system by building outwards from the practices
During design it lets you move from abstract ideas of how various actors and technologies will interact to a more lucid, algorithmic approach. It also acts as a useful communication and idea testing tool for programmers (who deal in algorithms), designers, and users

6. What notation/symbols are used for a Flowchart?
Terminal symbol, used to mark beginnings and ends of process
Process symbol, used whenever the system or the system’s data is being used or manipulated
Decision symbol, used when different selections/conditions invoke different paths
Flow line, used to indicate sequential movement from one process to another
Input/output symbol, used whenever data is being input or output
Document symbol, used when a user is storing or reading data from some document or other source

7. What notation/symbols are used for a Flowchart (continued…)
Subroutine symbol, used to identify an operation in a separate flowchart segment
On-page connector symbol, used to connect remote flowchart portions on the same page (this is messy)
Off-page connector symbol, used to connect remote flowchart portions on a separate page
Comment symbol, used to add some text to describe or clarify some aspect of the flowchart

8. Example: ATM Balance Query
Page 1
Page 2

9. How do we draw a flowchart from some narrative or some use case?
We will typically analyse narratives and use cases for two types of object
Verbs: these hint towards parts of an actual process and allow us to begin to formulate the basic algorithm
Nouns: these can be actors or objects
Knowing the objects lets us know the types of data and resources used in each process, which form the foundation over which these processes interact
Knowing the actors will add context to process flows and hep to link them together under different types of organizational functions/responsibilities. This lets us map the process across ‘swim lanes’

10. Adding ‘swim lanes’ to flowcharts
Swim lanes divide a flowchart into horizontal or vertical bands
Each band represents the subprocesses associated with some actor or organizational function, e.g. employee, HR, etc.
This captures the different areas where processes and data are handed off between different actors or organizational functions
This is very useful in practice!

11. Example of ‘swim lanes’
Image from story-games.com

12. Swim lanes example narrative
Take the case of student applying for a course – this process not only involves a number of different steps, but also different actors
Students submit an application
Administration check if the application is complete, returning the application to the student if not
A Registrar checks if the students is eligible according to the minimum requirements
Faculty decide whether or not an eligible student is suitable
If the student is not eligible according to the registrar, or not suitable according to Faculty, Administration send the student a rejection letter
If the student is eligible and suitable, Administration send the student an acceptance letter

13. Swim lanes example narrative
Who are the actors in this narrative?
How could the process be mapped out across these different actors using swim lanes?

14. Exercise: How do Google Make Money?
Answer: “primarily by delivering relevant, cost-effective online advertising”
AdWords*
Advertising space is placed above, beside, or below the list of search results Google displays for a some query
This advertising space is auctioned off for specific query types
Both cost-per-click advertising is offered, as well as cost-per-thousand-impressions advertising
* AdSense is also used, which allows website administrators to place ads on their website and track performance, but this is secondary to AdWords for Google in terms of revenue

15. Exercise: How do Google Make Money?
Answer: “primarily by delivering relevant, cost-effective online advertising”
AdWords*
Advertising space is placed above, beside, or below the list of search results Google displays for a some query
This advertising space is auctioned off for specific query types
Both cost-per-click advertising is offered, as well as cost-per-thousand-impressions advertising
* AdSense is also used, which allows website administrators to place ads on their website and track performance, but this is secondary to AdWords for Google in terms of revenue

16. Extract from support.google.com*
Each time an AdWords ad is eligible to appear for a search, it goes through the ad auction. The auction determines whether or not the ad actually shows and in which ad position it will show on the page.
Here's how the auction works:
When someone searches, the AdWords system finds all ads whose keywords match that search.
From those ads, the system ignores any that aren't eligible, like ads that target a different country or are disapproved.
Of the remaining ads, only those with a sufficiently high Ad Rank may show. Ad Rank is a combination of your bid, ad quality, and the expected impact of extensions and other ad formats. *

17. Extract from support.google.com
The most important thing to remember is that even if your competition bids higher than you, you can still win a higher position -- at a lower price -- with highly relevant keywords and ads.
Since the auction process is repeated for every search on Google, each auction can have potentially different results depending on the competition at that moment. Therefore it's normal for you to see some fluctuation in your ad's position on the page and in whether or not your ad shows at all.

18. Want to read more? Google AdWords site
Investopedia article on AdWords and Google