Your day-to-day workflow can be challenging to get in check. Sometimes we don’t know what the next logical step is off the top of our heads. Luckily, workflow charts are simple to create and can make certain processes much easier to understand.
What are they?
Flowcharts are diagrams that demonstrate certain processes and the steps and decisions within that process. Steps and decisions are represented by squares and diamonds, respectively, and are linked by arrows to show the order of the steps. For an example of a flowchart, take a look at this article.
Pros
- Very straightforward way of conveying a process as the symbols are generally universally understood
- Once it has been made, the process will often take less time than before
- Helps users understand how each step impacts an entire process
Cons
- Can be difficult to create, especially when the processes are more complicated
- If you don’t have the proper software, this can be a very long process
How to create one
Creating a workflow chart is not as complicated as it looks. Thanks to computer software that guides you through the process, it can really be much less painful that you might think.
In order to create a workflow chart you simply determine the starting point of a process as well as the ending point and all of the steps in between. Boxes represent different steps and the arrows that connect those boxes indicate which step comes next. If there is more than one course of action for a certain step, they should be denoted by multiple arrows and the appropriate operator icons. To see what different flowchart icons mean, take a look at this eHow article.
Workflow charts are an excellent way to help break down a process and better understand all of the steps that go into it.
For more information on creating a workflow chart, take a look at this article.
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