An excerpt of "System Analysis" which explains program flowcharts, system flowcharts & DFDs with examples.

1. Flow Chart

2. • Flowcharts were introduced by
Frank Gilberth in 1921, and
they were called “Process Flow
Charts” at the beginning .
Allan H. Mogensen is credited
with training business people
on the use of Flowcharts.
Wikipedia has a great
summary about the history of
flowcharts, read more in this
wiki section.

3. • A flowchart is a type of diagram that represents
an algorithm or process, showing the steps as
boxes of various kinds, and their order by
connecting them with arrows. This
diagrammatic representation illustrates a
solution to a given problem. Process operations
are represented in these boxes, and arrows;
rather, they are implied by the sequencing of
operations. Flowcharts are used in analyzing,
designing, documenting or managing a process
or program in various fields.

4. Data
Document
Stored
Data
Predefined
Process
Process
Start/Stop
Manual Input
Sequential
Access
Storage
Decision
Direct
Access
Storage
Internal
Storage
Manual
Operation

5. Vacancy arose in one of the leading companies around. The
board of directors have arranged a meeting to decide how will
they’ll recruit a new employee; internally or externally.

7. Program flowchart focuses
on the process of solving
the corresponding
problem. It gives explicit
details on how many data
input, the process being
done and the data output.

8. START
Job
Description
Externally?
Job
Specification
Does it
Match the
Job
Specification
Interview the
Candidate
Read
CV/Resume
Is he/she
Suitable
for the
Job
Publish on Web
(Advertise)
Vacancy
Filled
STOP

10. System flowchart, on the
other hand, focuses on the
input & output rather than
the detailed process itself.
It’s more simpler than
program flow chart in
terms of details but it does
show how data is being
input and output.

11. Job Description &
Specification
Recruitment & Selection
CV/Resume
New
Employee's
Data

12. Recruitment & Selection

14. Data flow diagram is
different from the two
flowcharts we dealt with
earlier.
This diagram illustrates
data and how does it flow
from one field to another.
This diagram, obviously,
focuses on the data.

15. Firm’s Website
Firm
Advertisement
Process
Newspaper

16. Advertisement
Process