How to choose the most effective flow chart
What is a flow chart?
They’re particularly useful in a variety of situations including:
- Documenting and analyzing processes
- Developing computer software or networks
- Communicating or standardizing processes
- Identifying redundancies, roadblocks and inefficiencies in processes
- Creating a plan or structure for a new project, department or business
- Planning project work with multiple stakeholders
- Understanding how users navigate a website or store
- Illustrating a manufacturing process
- Creating a new product or service
Flow chart benefits
Along with the ability to work in almost any scenario, flow charts offer a wide range of benefits, including:
Information visualization
Documentation
Simplified communication
Easy execution
Types of flow charts
1. Decision tree
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Think of a decision tree like an “if this, then that” flow chart. By allowing you to create a map of possible outcomes based on a specific set of choices, a decision tree can help you see a path clearly and weigh your options.
Decision trees usually begin with a single node (the question), then branch into two options (decisions), then those options lead to additional nodes (possible outcomes). Because of their nature, decision trees are especially good at highlighting probabilities and benefits and can even be used to design algorithms that help predict outcomes.
2. Process flow chart
Along with outlining how an activity should function, or the provisions of a product or service, process flow charts can also onboard new employees, train existing teams or help outside vendors or consultants understand your business and where they fit in.
3. Data flow chart
Flow chart tips
- Make your diagrams easy to read. Create your flow chart with the end-user in mind means making sure it’s layout and composition helps your audience knows where to look first and where to look next. By adjusting your alignment as needed, using proper grammar, clear titles, and avoiding jargon, you can ensure your diagram is user-friendly. (Hint: When in doubt, test it out on someone unfamiliar with your project.)
- Be consistent. When you use shapes, fonts, colors and naming conventions consistently throughout the flow chart, your audience can follow along easier.
- Use contrast. Using colors consistently is fundamental, but you don’t want to use the same color or color family for every shape. By using distinct colors, you can make steps or actions more prominent. And by using font colors that stand out from the background, your diagram will be easier to read.
- Use an online flow chart maker. With templates, built-in version control, easy collaboration and the option to edit them anytime, they can help you test out designs and create and manage your diagrams on your schedule.
Integrate your flow chart
Also, you might consider integrating your flow charts with business intelligence (BI) tools, allowing you and your team to interact with your data and tell a better story. With embedded flow charts and BI tools, you can turn data into engaging visuals, create interactive reports, explore data granularly, and gain insights that make fast, informed decisions possible.
There are so many new ways to create flow charts and bring innovation to your business. To learn more, check out this step-by-step guide for automating flow charts from structured data in spreadsheets, and take a deep dive into modern flow chart tools.
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