System Flowcharts

System Flowcharts

A system flowchart is a graphical representation of the workflow and processing logic across an entire system. Unlike program flowcharts which detail module-level logic, system flowcharts show how data moves between people, procedures, files, and computers at a high level.

Flowchart Symbols

Symbol              Name                Use

Oval                Terminator          Start/End of a process
Rectangle           Process             Manual or computer operation
Diamond             Decision            Yes/No branching
Parallelogram       Input/Output        Data entering or leaving
Document            Document            Paper output (report, letter)
Database/Cylinder   Data Store          Database or file storage
Arrow               Flow Line           Direction of flow
Circle              Connector           Link between sections

Example: Employee Payroll System

            [ Start ]
                |
                v
        /---------------\       +----------+
        | Enter Employee |<----- | Employee |
        | Hours Worked   |       | Records  |
        \-------+-------/       +----------+
                |
                v
        +-------+--------+
        | Calculate Pay   |
        | (Rate x Hours)  |
        +-------+--------+
                |
                v
        +-------+--------+     Yes    +----------+
        | Hours > 40?   |------------> | Add      |
        +-------+--------+             | Overtime |
                | No                   +----+-----+
                |                          |
                v                          |
        +-------+--------+                |
        | Generate Pay    |<--------------+
        | Slip            |
        +-------+--------+
                |
                v
        +-------+--------+     +--------+
        | Print Payroll   |---->| Printer|
        | Report          |     +--------+
        +-------+--------+
                |
                v
            [  End  ]

When to Use System Flowcharts

• Documenting overall business processes
• Showing interactions between people, systems, and data
• Training new employees on workflows
• Communicating system design to non-technical stakeholders
• Auditing existing processes for improvement opportunities

System Flowchart vs Program Flowchart

Best Practices

• Keep the flowchart simple and uncluttered
• Use standard symbols consistently
• Label all decision points and flow lines
• Flow generally from top to bottom and left to right
• Use connectors for complex flowcharts that span multiple pages

Summary

System flowcharts provide a clear, visual overview of how work flows through a system. They are invaluable for documentation, training, and communication between technical and non-technical stakeholders.