Bigsun Udaan › Business analysis guides › Simple Flowchart Example
Worked example
A simple flowchart: how a leave request flows
A flowchart shows the steps of a process using a few simple shapes. This example follows the leave process from the sample requirements document.
How to read the symbols
| Shape | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Rounded oval | Start or end of the process. |
| Rectangle | An action someone or something performs. |
| Diamond-style box (shown here in warm colour) | A decision with two or more answers, such as Yes or No. |
| Arrow | The direction the work moves. |
The leave request process
A text version of the same flow
- Employee submits a leave request.
- If the balance is not enough: show a message and stop.
- Otherwise notify the manager, who reviews the request.
- If rejected: tell the employee and stop.
- If approved: reduce the balance, update the team calendar, tell the employee, and stop.
What is a swimlane diagram?
A swimlane diagram is a flowchart split into rows (“lanes”), one for each person or team. It shows who does each step. For this process you would draw three lanes — Employee, Manager and System.
| Employee | Manager | System |
|---|---|---|
| Submits request | Checks balance | |
| Reviews request | Notifies manager | |
| Approves or rejects | Updates balance and calendar | |
| Receives decision | Notifies employee |
Practice
- Draw the current (email-based) leave process from the sample requirements document on paper.
- Draw the order process from the process exercise as a swimlane diagram with four lanes: Customer, Sales, Accounts and Store.
- Mark where the waiting happens. These are your candidate bottlenecks.
Tip: you can draw flowcharts for free on paper, or with a free online diagram tool of your choice.
Original educational material created by Bigsun Technologies for the Bigsun Udaan initiative. The people, companies and figures in the examples are fictional. This is a learning aid, not an accredited course or a guarantee of employment.