Flowchart

A flowchart is a graphic depiction of the steps or activities that constitute a process.

The International Standards Organization (ISO) defines flowchart as a “graphical representation of the definition, analysis, or method of solution of a problem in which symbols are used to represent operations, data, flow, equipment, etc.” 1 Many organizations require the documentation of dataflow or process flow. Some organizations require a flowchart to accompany every Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). Organizations also use flowcharts to document and communicate the data flow and or process flow for a research project.

Flowcharts are constructed from standard symbols. It is important that standard symbols be used because flowcharts are used to communicate processes. When people see a specific symbol in a chart, they understand a specific meaning. Thus, to read, use, and create flowcharts knowing the meaning of the standard symbols is important. There is an ISO standard, ISO 5807, that specifies the standard flowchart symbols for information processing. Excerpts in this set of slides are taken directly from the ISO standard.

Many software applications have flowcharting functionality. Some of these are Microsoft Word , Microsoft PowerPoint , and Visio . The functionality that is important to flowcharting is that the standard shapes are available and that there are “connectors” that latch to the shapes and stay attached until you detach them. This facilitates editing the flowchart.