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Visual Modelling Languages
FlowchartsM05EKM Business Simulation
Dr Ammar Al-Bazi
Lecture 5.1
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Lecture Outlines
• Introduction
• Flowchart Definition
• Importance of Flowcharts
• Why We Use Flowcharts
• Flowchart Field of
Applications
• Types of Flowcharts
• Flowcharts Building
Blocks
• Creating Flowcharts
• Flowchart ControlStructures
• Visual Example
• Case Studies
• Comments
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Flowcharts Definition• A graphical or symbolic
representation of a process.Each step in the process is
represented by a different
symbol and contains a short
description of the process step.
The flow chart symbols are
linked together with arrows
showing the process flowdirection• An organised combination of shapes, lines, and text
that graphically illustrates a process or structure
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Importance of Flowcharts
• Building a step-by-step picture of the process
for analysis, discussion, or communication
purposes.
• Defining, standardising, or finding areas for
improvement in a process.• Flowcharts are recognised as on of the most
important ways to effectively communicate ideas
between people who may differ in knowledge,
education, and position• Without flowcharts, you can spend a ton of
energy explaining how the process is to be done!
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Why We Use Flowcharts
• Create visual maps of a process• Help with planning a project
• Quality improvement tool
• Identify processes that needimprovement
• Identify unnecessary/ problem steps
in a process• Good communication tool
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Flowchart Field of Applications
• Production – Manufacturing
– Used to identify critical
path
• Accounting – Help visualize money
flow
• Services – Restaurants
– Real estate
• Education – Curriculum
flowcharts
–
Student flow throughprocess
• Hospitals – Patient flow
– Medical processes
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Types of Flowcharts
That there are four general types of flowcharts:
• Document flowcharts, showing controls over a
document-flow through a system.
• Data flowcharts, showing controls over a data flows
in a system.
• System flowcharts showing controls at a physical or resource level.
• Program flowchart, showing the controls in a
program within a system.
Notice that every type of flowchart focuses on some kind of control, rather than onthe particular flow itself.
In addition, many diagram techniques exist that are similar to flowcharts but carry a
different name, such as UML Activity
Diagrams.
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Flowchart Building Blocks
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Flowchart Building Blocks (Cont)
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Flowchart Building Blocks (Cont)
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Flowchart Building Blocks (Cont)
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Flowchart Building Blocks (Cont)
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Creating Flowcharts
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Common Rules for Flowcharts
• Indicate and label all elements of the project
• Sequence of events is clear
• No gaps or dead ends
• Must be logical to the user
• Use correct symbols
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Flowchart Control Structure
The Three Basic Control Structure are:
1. Sequence 2. Selection (a)
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Flowchart Control Structure (Cont)
The Three Basic Control Structure are:
3. Selection (b) 4. Repetition
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Flowchart Software
•Some tools offer special support for flowchart drawing such as Microsoft
Visio.
•
Many software packages exist that cancreate flowcharts automatically, either
directly from source code, or from a
flowchart description language. On-line
Web-based versions of such programs
are available
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Visual Example
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Real Life Case StudyMore details can be found in: http://itc.scix.net/data/works/att/w78-2008-7-05.pdf
Al-Bazi A. and Dawood N. (2008). “Enterprise Simulation of the Precast Concrete Manufacturing Industry” . CIB W78 2008 International
Conference on Information Technology in Construction. Santiago, Chile.
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Comments
• Valuable and unique quality
improvement tool
• Simple and effective way of visualising
and understanding a process
• Entire organisation has an effect on the
flowchart
• Everyone involved can take part in
improving the process