6   Methods of Presentation

Flow Diagrams

Use a flow diagram to provide a graphic overview of the relationship between things, how processes work, or how documents move. Don’t try to illustrate every step in a complex procedure—this is better left to step-by-step procedures. Flow diagrams are also good for showing feedback loops and branches within procedures.

Flow diagrams can be created using the draw capabilities of your word processor, graphics software, or flow diagram software.

Tips on Creating Flow Diagrams

Here are some tips on creating flow diagrams:

• Keep the number of shapes to a minimum. Try to stick with the standard shapes, and always include a legend explaining the meaning of each shape.

• Indicate the start point.

• Make them small enough to fit on one page.

• Don’t cram a lot of text into the shapes—the purpose is to provide a graphic overview, not to give readers all the details.