CSC121: INTRODUCTION TO PROBLEM SOLVING
MODULE 4
Flowchart
A flowchart is visual or graphical representation of an algorithm. The flowcharts are
pictorial representation of the methods to be used to solve a given problem and help a
great deal to analyse the problem and plan its solution in a systematic and orderly
manner. A flowchart when translated in to a proper computer language, results in a
complete program.
Advantages of Flowcharts
Flowcharts offer several advantages in various fields and applications due to their
visual and structured nature. Here are some of the key advantages of using flowcharts:
Clarity and Visualization: Flowcharts provide a visual representation of
complex processes, making them easier to understand. They help stakeholders,
including non-technical individuals, grasp the logic and flow of a process
quickly.
Effective Communication: Flowcharts serve as a universal language that can be
easily understood by different team members, including developers, designers,
managers, and clients. They facilitate clear communication and eliminate
ambiguity.
Simplified Documentation: Flowcharts act as documentation tools for
processes, procedures, and algorithms. They offer a concise and structured way
to document complex systems, making it easier to reference and share
information.
Problem Identification: Flowcharts can highlight bottlenecks, inefficiencies, or
errors in a process. This makes them valuable for process analysis and
troubleshooting. Identifying issues early can lead to process improvements.
Process Improvement: Flowcharts are instrumental in process improvement
initiatives such as Lean, Six Sigma, and Total Quality Management (TQM).
They help identify areas for optimization and streamlining.
Planning and Design: Flowcharts are useful in the planning and design phases
of projects. They allow teams to outline processes and workflows before
implementation, reducing the risk of errors and misunderstandings.
Standardization: Flowcharts can help standardize procedures and workflows
within an organization. They provide a visual reference that ensures
consistency in how tasks are performed.
Training and Education: Flowcharts are valuable teaching tools for training
new employees or students. They simplify the explanation of complex
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processes and help individuals understand the steps involved.
©CSC121: Introduction to Problem Solving
Decision Making: Flowcharts can include decision points and conditional
statements, making them helpful in decision-making processes. They visualize
the various options and outcomes, aiding in informed choices.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Flowcharts facilitate collaboration between
different departments and teams within an organization. They provide a shared
understanding of processes and workflows.
Quality Assurance: Flowcharts can be used to define quality control measures
within a process. By visualizing checkpoints and inspections, they help ensure
product or service quality.
Project Management: Flowcharts are used in project management to represent
project workflows, task dependencies, and critical paths. They assist in project
planning and scheduling.
Documentation Compliance: In regulated industries such as healthcare and
finance, flowcharts can help organizations demonstrate compliance with
industry standards and regulations.
Process Automation: Flowcharts can serve as blueprints for automating
processes with software or robotic process automation (RPA). They provide a
clear roadmap for automation developers.
Continuous Improvement: Flowcharts can be updated and revised as processes
evolve or improve over time. They support on-going efforts to enhance
efficiency and effectiveness.
Symbols used in Flowcharting
The symbols that we make use while drawing flowcharts as given below are as per
conventions followed by International Standard Organization (ISO).
Oval: Rectangle with rounded sides is used to indicate either START/ STOP of the
program.
Parallelograms: are used to represent input and output operations. Statements like
INPUT, READ and PRINT are represented in these Parallelograms.
Rectangle: is used to indicate any set of processing operation such as for performing
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arithmetic operations.
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©CSC121: Introduction to Problem Solving
Diamond: is used for indicating the step of decision making and therefore known as
decision box. Decision boxes are used to test the conditions or ask questions and
depending upon the answers, the appropriate actions are taken by the computer. The
decision box symbol is
Flow Lines: Flow lines indicate the direction being followed in the flowchart. In a
Flowchart, every line must have an arrow on it to indicate the direction. The arrows
may be in any direction.
On- Page connectors: Circles are used to join the different parts of a flowchart and
these circles are called on-page connectors. The uses of these connectors give a neat
shape to the flowcharts. In a complicated problem, a flowchart may run in to several
pages. The parts of the flowchart on different pages are to be joined with each other.
The parts to be joined are indicated by the circle.
Off-page connectors: This connector represents a break in the path of flowchart
which is too large to fit on a single page. It is similar to on-page connector. The
connector symbol marks where the algorithm ends on the first page and where it
continues on the second.
Simple Problems using Flowchart
Exercise3:
Draw the Flowchart for both the problems and exercises given above
Excercise4:
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Write the algorithm and draw the flowchart to find Roots of Quadratic equation ax2+
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bx + c = 0. The coefficients a, b, c are the input data
©CSC121: Introduction to Problem Solving
Problem5:
Draw a flowchart for adding the integers from 1 to 100 and to print the sum.
Problem6:
Draw a flowchart to find the factorial of given positive integer N.
Problem6:
ABC Company plans to give a 6% year-end bonus to each of its employees earning
$6,000 or more per month, and a fixed $250 bonus to the remaining employees. Draw
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a flowchart for calculating the bonus for an employee.
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©CSC121: Introduction to Problem Solving
