A flow chart template is a great way to make a good mental model of a solution. It makes relationships clear and fills in gaps that might be left if the solution was only described textually.
What Is A Flowchart?
A flowchart is a diagram used to represent an algorithm, workflow or process in graphical form.
It’s a way of visually representing things you have to do or think about in order to get something done. This can be any process at all, whether it’s someone else’s process that you’re following or one you’ve made for your own use.
Here are five reasons you should use a process flow chart template for problem-solving:
Source: Venngage
1) Flowcharts Reveal Information Gaps Between Actions & Decisions
When you find yourself drawing a box and asking “what do I do next?”, then you have found that there is an information gap between the two actions. One action leads into another, but there’s no description of what happens in between.
For a convenient and effective flow chart making tool, try Venngage.
2) Flowcharts Break Up Large Problems Into Smaller Parts
Distilling a problem down to a blank flow chart template hides unnecessary details and lets you look at the specific parts of a problem without being overwhelmed. You can take an intractable problem and break it into several smaller, more intuitive problems that make sense for you to solve.
3) Flowcharts Give Context To Decisions
Every time there’s a decision listed in a free flow chart template, there is also a description of the context that decision was made in.
Flowcharts are great for communicating why a solution works by explaining what all relevant information is taken into account when making a decision. It lets you point to anything important without having to explain it in words, which can be very hard to do if there are lots of things involved.
4) Flowcharts Provide A Map To The Solution
Every decision listed in the flowchart or a process flow diagram is what leads to that next step. There’s nothing else that can be done besides following those decisions/actions one after another. That means there is only one route you need to take, and it eliminates any extraneous pathways you might end up taking if you’re solving the problem by only reading about it.
5) Flowcharts Keep Everything In Order
Flowcharts act like a nice map to any solution, with lots of signposts that let you know where you are. It’s easier to recognize that once you’re lost or confused when following the map is easy, but it’s also better for remembering what came before and after something.
Flowcharts are great for simple processes with very few steps, but they’re even better when you use them to break down larger problems into smaller, logical parts.
6) Show The Structure Of Anything Mappable In A Sequential Fashion
This list is just scratching the surface of what flowcharts are good for, but they’re useful for any part of problem-solving or finding solutions to problems. Anything you can diagram can be turned into a flowchart.
A good example is logic in video games. Most modern games have lots of different ways to accomplish goals and lots of different rules that determine how these work together in relation to each other; this could be the functions in algorithms, but it could also involve deciding when to execute scripts or move to different areas.
A flow chart sample template is great for this because it can help you follow a sequence through several decisions or actions that lead to each other. This is something that anyone can benefit from, whether they’re trying to learn about programming algorithms or figure out the solution to a problem and talk about it with someone else.
Flowcharts can help you follow along in any scenario that involves a sequence of events that lead into each other. For example, they can be used to make sure all steps of a process are taken before anything moves on (think testing the emergency shut-off switch), or they can be used to determine how different parts of a game are put together.
Source: geralt/Pixabay
7) Flowcharts Are Great For Leaving Notes
One thing flowcharts are actually best at is being able to leave notes on top of them so anyone else who looks at the diagram will have some additional information available to them. This could be used for teaching, collaboration, or making sure other people know what’s going on.
Flowcharts provide several benefits when it comes to the process of solving problems and finding solutions. They help break down larger problems into logical parts that let you make sense of everything involved in putting together a solution. Flowcharts are great because they show how everything fits together and the order in which different things come into play, making them a useful tool for almost any problem-solving scenario.
8) Flowcharts Help You Remember Everything In A Solution
Having a good mental model of a solution is essential for solving hard problems because it tells you what steps to take and when to stop working on something. A sample flow chart template characterizes all actions and decisions, so it’s much easier to keep track of what you’ve done and how it fits together.
In Conclusion
Mapping out a problem is the best way to understand it. These reasons show why flowcharts are a great tool for understanding problems and also how they can help you solve them. A flowchart can help break down your problem into more manageable pieces that are easier to tackle one at a time.
