How to Flow Chart a Process

A flowchart allows a process to be visualized.

A flowchart is a great way to visualize a process, and as a result is often used in business. It can be used to analyze a process to identify ways it can be improved or streamlined to achieve the end goal in a shorter amount of time and in a more efficient way. Drawing a flowchart is a relatively simple process.

Things You'll Need

• Pen and paper

Instructions

1. Write out your process, identifying areas where a decision needs to be made. This will be important when it comes to drawing your flowchart.

2. Draw a capsule shape at the top of your page, and write the word "Start" in it. This identifies the beginning of your process, and is known as a "terminator object."

3. Draw a rectangle underneath your Start capsule and write the first action in your process inside it. Link the Start capsule and your first rectangle with an arrow, pointing towards the rectangle to denote the flow of the process. Continue adding arrows and rectangles to reflect stages in the process. For example, when buying a house, the process could read "Search for House" -> "Make Offer."

4. Continue adding action rectangles until you come to a point where a decision needs to be made; for example "Offer Accepted?" Write the question in a diamond shape, and from the diamond draw a connecting arrow to each outcome that can be made as the result of this decision. In many cases, this will be simply "Yes" or "No." These do not need to be written in their own boxes.

5. Once you have finished your flowchart, write "End" inside another capsule, connected to the last action by an arrow.

Tips & Warnings

• A downwards arrow indicates that the flowchart is continued on another page.

References

• MindTools: Flow Charts, Understanding and Communicating How a Process Works