CHPT 3 FLOWCHARTING

define documentation

narratives, flowcharts, diagrams, and other written materials that explain how a system works

define narrative description

written, step by step explanation of system components and how they interact

define business process diagrams (BPD)

graphical descriptions of the business processes used by a company

define flowchart

graphical description of a system. several types including document flowchart, system flowchart, program flowchart

what is a document flowchart?

shows the flow of documents and information between departments or areas of responsbility

define system flowcharts

shows relationships among the input, processing, and output in an information system

define program flowcharts

shows the sequence of logical operations a computer performs as it executes a program

define a data flow diagram (DFD)

graphical description of data sources, data flows, transformation processes, data storage, and data destinations

whatre the four categories of flowcharting symbols?

1) input/output symbols

2) processing symbols

3) storage symbols

4) flow and miscellaneous symbols

what is the name and explanation of this symbol?

document; an electronic or paper document or report

what is the name and explanation for this symbol?

multiple copies of one paper document; illustrates the presence of duplicates or multiple reports.

what is the name and explanation for this symbol?

electronic output; information displayed by an electronic output device such as a terminal, monitor, or screen

what is the name and explanation of this symbol?

electronic data entry; electronic data entry device such as a computer, terminal, tablet or phone

what is the name and explanation of this symbol?

electronic input and output device; electronic data entry and output symbols are used together to show a device used for both

what is the name and explanation for this symbol?

computer processing; computer-performed processing function, usually results in a change in data or information

what is the name and explanation for this symbol?

manual operation; a processing operation performed manually

what is the name and explanation of this symbol?

database; data stored electronically in a database

what is the name and explanation for this symbol?

magnetic tape; data stored electronically on a magnetic tape, popular back-up storage medium

what is the name and explanation of this symbol?

paper document file; file of paper documents, letters indicate file-ordering sequence (N = numerically; A = alphabetically; D = by date)

what is the name and explanation of this symbol?

journal/ledger; paper based accounting journals and ledgers

what is the name and explanation of this symbol?

document or processing flow; direction of processing or document flow, normal flow is down and to the right

what is the name and explanation of this symbol?

communication link; transmission of data from one geographic location to another via communication lines

what is the name and explanation of this symbol?

on-page connector; connects the processing flow on the same page, its usage avoids lines crisscrossing a page

what is the name and explanation of this symbol?

off-page connector; an entry from, or an exit to, another page

what is the name and explanation for this symbol?

terminal; a beginning, end, or point of interruption in a process, also used to indicate an external party

what is the name and explanation of this symbol?

decision; a decision-making step

what is the name and explanation of this symbol?

annotation; addition of descriptive comments or explanatory notes as clarification

define internal control flowchart

used to describe, analyze, and evaluate internal controls, including identifying system strengths, weaknesses, and inefficiencies

define context diagram

highest-level of DFD; summary-level view of a system, showing the data processing system, its input(s), and output(s), and their sources and destinations