Readability
Because most of us are not trained in how to layout processes effectively in school, we usually try and figure it out ourselves. The flowchart below shows a typical result. Here the author has used a combination of a tabular or step-by-step approach and linked them with connectors to illustrate the work pattern and flow. The chart provides some guidance on steps and hand-offs, but is not precise. The reader has to do a lot of interpretation for each step, and determine if some steps are connected or related.
Bottom line: Not easy for the reader to follow accurately.
Note: See circle on the chart shows where underlying data would make this flowchart more useful
Leveraging underlying data
Most process maps and charts provide a high level guide to what needs to be done, but you have to go somewhere else to find the details. Leveraging this underlying data is a great way of making the chart much more useful to the reader. in the case above, access to a set of survey responses would help the reader with their task. However, because the chart notes that responses are available, but doesn’t show how to get them, the opportunity is lost. To leverage you data do the following:
- Make a connection to the relevant data by hyperlinking to the files you need to reach. Almost all drawing products have this feature. e.g. PowerPoint, Visio, TaskMap …
- Clearly show on the map that a link is present, so the reader doesn’t miss it.
- Ensure the file is available to those that need it when the click on the link. (e.g. test your link)
