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Construction guidance covers information gathering, selecting people to build the diagram, choosing appropriate detail, and writing steps into the correct shapes.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/","Template",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/presentations/","Presentations",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/qi-toolbox-flowcharts-and-gantt-charts/239395/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/qi-toolbox-flowcharts-and-gantt-charts/239395.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Aran","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-27","2026-09-11",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",15,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"What is a flowchart used to show?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"A flowchart depicts all steps in a process in sequential order from START to FINISH, using shapes to represent each type of step.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"Which symbols are commonly used in flowcharts?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"Ovals represent starting and ending points, diamonds represent decision points, squares represent activities, and arrows show the sequence of actions.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"How should you analyze a flowchart for improvement?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"Review the flowchart with people involved, walk through the process to confirm step order, amend when needed, and identify improvement areas such as delays, non-value steps, unclear responsibility, and illogical sequencing.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},239395,1791156647,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,88,93,98,102,107,112,117,122],{"id":85,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":86,"slug":87},11,90,"presentations",{"id":89,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":90,"show_sort_weight":91,"slug":92},12,"Resumes",80,"resumes",{"id":94,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":95,"show_sort_weight":96,"slug":97},14,"Invoices",70,"invoices",{"id":55,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":99,"show_sort_weight":100,"slug":101},"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":103,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":104,"show_sort_weight":105,"slug":106},16,"Social Media",50,"social-media",{"id":108,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":109,"show_sort_weight":110,"slug":111},17,"Forms",40,"forms",{"id":113,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":114,"show_sort_weight":115,"slug":116},18,"Letters",30,"letters",{"id":118,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":119,"show_sort_weight":120,"slug":121},21,"Paper Templates",5,"papers-templates",{"id":123,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":124,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":125},158,"General","general-158",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":127},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":128,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":129,"doc_module":22,"category_id":85,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":130,"file_id":131,"file_url":132,"file_type":133,"file_size":134,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":135,"language":136,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":137,"faqs":138,"seo_title":139,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":140,"read_time":141},137455076865,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_29158cc5080c5b710cf443261637dec0","QI Toolbox  \nFlowcharts and Gantt Charts  \nPerformance Improvement Team Meeting September 24, 2015  \nMarcy Fenton, MS, RD Susan Hathaway, RN, MPH Julia Heinzerling, MPH  \nWhat is a Flowchart?  \n• A flowchart depicts all of the steps in a process in sequential order from START to FINISH  \n• Uses shapes/symbols to depict steps  \n– Ovals: Starting and Ending Points  \n– Diamonds: Decision Points  \n– Squares: Activities  \n– Arrows: Sequence of Actions  \n• Possible elements may include:  \n– Sequence of Actions  \n– Inputs and Outputs  \n– Decisions  \n– Time or People Involved at each Step  \nWhen to Use a Flowchart  \n• Use a flowchart to depict and understand  \nthe steps in a process or design a new process  \n– Show connecting processes  \n– Identify wasteful steps  \n– Uncover sources of variation  \n– Identify areas for improvement  \n• Document the current process when planning and the new process after you’ve tested improvements  \n• Use a flowchart as a training tool  \nHow to Construct a Flowchart \\#1  \n• Collect information on the process  \n– Experience  \n– Observation  \n– Conversation  \n– Interviews  \n– Research  \n• Gather people who understand the process to develop the flowchart  \n– Include people who do the work  \n• Decide how detailed to make the diagram  \nHow to Construct a Flowchart \\#2  \n• Define the process’ starting and end points  \n• List each step in the process  \n– Recognize that staff may use different processes  \n– Be accurate and honest  \n– Use post-it notes, to easily adjust steps  \n• Use the following prompts:  \n– How does the process begin?  \n– What happens first? What happens next?  \n– What are the decision points?  \n– Where do inputs and outputs come into play?  \nHow to Construct a Flowchart \\#3  \n• Write each step in the appropriate shape  \n– Start with an oval symbol labeled START  \n– Finish with an oval symbol labeled END  \n• Draw arrows between shapes to indicate the process flow  \n– Shapes with more than one arrow should be diamonds (decision)  \n– All arrows should lead back to an earlier step or toward the end of the process  \n6  \nCommon  \nFlowchart Symbols Start or End Point  \nActivity  \nDecision  \nInput/Output  \nDocument  \nForms  \nWait/Delay  \nStorage  \nTransport  \nInput  \nOutput  \nConnector  \nPreparation  \nA  \nHow to Analyze a Flowchart  \n• Review the flowchart with people involved in the process  \n• Walk through the process to verify that steps are in the correct order  \n• Amend if needed  \n• Identify areas for potential improvement  \n– Time lags or delays  \n– Steps that don’t add value  \n– Unnecessary decision points  \n– Illogical sequencing  \n– Chances for error  \n– Duplication of effort  \n– Unclear lines of responsibility  \nPotential Pitfalls  \n• Did participants understand the flowcharting process?  \n• Was the flowchart drawn the way participants envision the process or the way it actually works?  \n– Were participants reluctant to depict illogical parts of the process?  \n• Do you have buy-in to use the flowchart?  \nFlowchart Example  \nSource: The Air University, Basic Tools for Process Improvement 9","cbCaitqR40h68ySi","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaitqR40h68ySi","pdf",1864118,23,"English","# What is a Flowchart?\n## When to Use a Flowchart\n## How to Construct a Flowchart\n### Collect information on the process\n### Define starting and end points\n### Write each step in the appropriate shape\n## How to Analyze a Flowchart\n## Potential Pitfalls\n## Flowchart Example","[{\"question\":\"What is a flowchart used to show?\",\"answer\":\"A flowchart depicts all steps in a process in sequential order from START to FINISH, using shapes to represent each type of step.\"},{\"question\":\"Which symbols are commonly used in flowcharts?\",\"answer\":\"Ovals represent starting and ending points, diamonds represent decision points, squares represent activities, and arrows show the sequence of actions.\"},{\"question\":\"How should you analyze a flowchart for improvement?\",\"answer\":\"Review the flowchart with people involved, walk through the process to confirm step order, amend when needed, and identify improvement areas such as delays, non-value steps, unclear responsibility, and illogical sequencing.\"}]","QI Toolbox - Flowcharts and Gantt Charts | PDF",1789148168,8]