Essential Skills - National Adult Literacy Database
Essential Skills - National Adult Literacy Database
Essential Skills - National Adult Literacy Database
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<strong>Essential</strong> <strong>Skills</strong> and the Northern Oil and Gas Workforce Final Report and Resource Guide<br />
Flowchart SkillBuilder<br />
A flowchart shows a sequence of steps in a process. It sometimes indicates the amount of<br />
time each step should take. Flowcharts are an easy-to-read format for procedures that have<br />
many steps. They give us a “big picture” view. Usually the flowchart starts at the top of the<br />
page and works its way down the page. Text is short and to the point. Many abbreviations<br />
are used. A label or title explains the process being described.<br />
How to read Flowcharts:<br />
Start / Stop<br />
A circle, oval or rounded off rectange usually means the start or end of a process. The<br />
“start” could mean gathering materials, equipment or information needed for a project.<br />
The “start” refers to an action which must be completed before the process gets<br />
underway or to an event which activates the process. The “stop” means the final<br />
product or outcome. Sometimes ovals are used to mean starts or stops in the middle<br />
of process. A circle with a number inside can mean that the flowchart is continued<br />
somewhere else on the page or on a different page.<br />
Step / Task<br />
A rectangle means a step or a task. Variations in rectangles can mean sub-steps or subprocesses.<br />
(parallelograms , squares )<br />
Decision<br />
A diamond means a decision point (an if/then point). A question is asked or a<br />
statement is made. A yes or true answer results in one specific path or set of actions,<br />
and a no or false answer leads to a different path or set of actions.<br />
Storage / Handling / Packaging<br />
Companies sometimes use a triangle to mean storage, handling, filing or packaging of<br />
materials or documents.<br />
Process Flow<br />
Arrows indicate the direction of the process. Only one arrow leads to the next step.<br />
Several arrows can go to the same activity box. The boxes in a flowchart are like<br />
nounds and the arrows are like the verbs directing the action.<br />
A broken or dashed line means a separation between categories or areas of<br />
responsibility. It can also mean an indirect path between two points.<br />
Other common symbols:<br />
Procedure Document Documents Input<br />
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