A flow chart is worth a thousand words...

Flowcharting is not a new thing to most of us. We've been doing this since elementary/highschool. But guess what? It was only last February 13, 2010, during our class in BA 180.1, that I learned what the different shapes used in flow chart making stand for. I didn't know the thing for it was not taught during my early school days. Then later on, while I was on my way home, I realized that we never had an exercise on flow chart making during highschool. What we actually did was an organizational chart and a family tree. LOLZ! They are totally different things, right? Well, I am not really sure. Another proof of the ignorance running through my veins. hahahaha, but atleast I am learning :) So with this, let me rephrase my first few statements.

Here they go...


"Flowcharting is not a new thing to most of you but it is to me. You've been doing this since elementary/highschool and I have not done one yet." hahaha :) Thank God it was discussed in BA 180.1. (Sir, plus points! hihi :p)


(...serious mode...)

Flow charts are very useful to us for they are diagrams that make instructions and processes easy to comprehend. They save us from reading wordy paragraphs (haha especially people like me who don't like reading since birth :) In other words, they make life easier! Flowcharting a process often brings to light redundancies, delays, dead ends, and indirect paths that would otherwise remain unnoticed or ignored. Thanks to those people who introduced flow charts! Apir! :))

There are three basic symbols used in flow chart making:

1. Squares which represent activities or tasks
2. Diamonds which represent decision points
3. Arrows which represent flow of control

Flow charts can help us see whether the steps of a process are logical, uncover problems or miscommunications, define the boundaries of a process, and develop a common base of knowledge about a process. Indeed, a flow chart is worth a thousand words! :)