In the case of simplifying a process map, less is often more. Harvard Computing Group examines the benefits of reducing the number of symbols used in a process map. By taking a simple approach to layout, the second post shows how top to bottom, left to right will increase the readability of maps dramatically.
Harvard Computing Group review of process mapping problems for users
Process Mapping: Best Practices–Less is more
Once we start creating process maps, we will be using symbols. Now because there are many, many to choose from, problems start to occur. The first one is using too many symbols for your audience. This is distracting, unhelpful and makes it harder to read and understand the content of your process map. Two basic [...]
Process Mapping: Best practices for layout and flow
Ensuring your process map is readable is the most important best practice, after all what’s the use if its correct, but illegible. Flow is best defined by following the way that most of us read, left to right and top to bottom works for many process maps. For the most part, landscape is the way [...]
