Once upon a time at university, I used flowcharts to map out my research processes so they could be clearly understood and repeated during peer review. Lately, I’ve been using flowcharts to organize an instructional book on floral design. Today, I’ll be exploring flowcharts as they pertain to the business sector.
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A flowchart is a visual map to help explain a process for decision-making, achieving results, or projecting an outcome. Flowcharts begin at a starting point on the graphic, and as users follow through it, they will choose one of several outcomes or options until reaching the end of the process.
Flowcharts are ideal for outlining processes, which are the backbone of a strong business. A clear, repeatable process has two major hurdles to successful implementation in any business: first, the development of that process, and second, getting buy-in from stakeholders on that process. (Good luck, right?)
The best way to overcome both of these potential roadblocks is to transparently and logically outline a process.
Many businesses use flowcharts to manage this, as flowcharts visually outline a process roadmap for a full-scope understanding. They can also be easily digested by employees who need to know and follow the process.
In a business, flowcharts can be used for any of the following purposes:
You can also use flowcharts for QA work, mapping out your career progression, and much, much more.
To help you create actionable flowcharts for your organization, I’ve listed the best flowchart templates for you to download and start using today. These can help you to create a smoother process in any area of your business. Each one comes with a download link for you to start using that template right on Google Slides.
This basic flow chart template is a great solution for those just getting started with flowcharts. The template allows its designers to specify a starting point, two potential outcomes, and then the resulting processes of those decisions. Due to its limitations, this flowchart template is best suited for simple processes.
Who should use this flowchart? Anyone who needs to map out if-then processes.
What I like about this flowchart template: The basic process flowchart is easy to use and follow, and it’s ideal for documenting straightforward or simple processes.
Pro tip: This flowchart is helpful for those looking to design an A/B test to determine the best way to get the results they're looking for.
The swimlane flowchart template divides the steps of a process into different sectors. For your business, these different sectors could be time periods, teams, employees, or work requirements.
Who should use this flowchart? Swimlane flowcharts are particularly helpful for those who oversee cross-functional processes.
What I like about this flowchart template: This template visualizes the different process steps that take place across multiple teams or organizations.
A task flowchart template simplifies complex processes with unique shapes. Each shape on the flowchart represents something different, forming a quick visual key.
This format is helpful when the work of several teams intertwines throughout a process. This is because it makes it easier for team members to figure out the tasks they're responsible for.
These roles are often noted in a key on the flowchart for quick reference.
Who should use this flowchart? Project managers looking to keep track of various tasks and their outcomes.
What I like about this flowchart template: The task flowchart visually depicts how various contributions to a product support the end result. Each stakeholder can see how their tasks impact the flow of the project.
Pro tip: The shapes can also represent different types of actions, like back-end development of a new element and then front-end testing of those elements to create a QA process.
Visualize processes and timelines with these free templates.
