What is the difference between a workflow and a flowchart if any?

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+2 Q:

What is the difference between a workflow and a flowchart if any?

Hi,

I'm doing a study on how to visualize a process of an application. Now I found the term workflow and workflow management but it's a little confusing.

When I searched further the term flowchart also showed up.

My question is now, is there any difference between the two because I see those two used in the same context.

Thanks

+2 A:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Workflow

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flowchart

"A workflow" is a definition of a process for how an item of work should be done.

A flowchart is a diagram for describing a process. So a workflow can be described by a flowchart.

Perhaps it is the case that workflows are commonly described by flowcharts, that some people may use the two terms interchangably.

Does that help?

Jaydee 2010-09-15 08:17:32

So if you talk about workflows, you talk about a series of steps how a process should run (sum up the tasks of that process) and a flowchart is the visualization of those steps?

Gerard 2010-09-15 08:30:06

Pretty much yes (AFAIK). Flowcharts can be used to visualise all kinds of things. Workflows can be defined in various ways processes, business rules, forms to be filled in etc.

Jaydee 2010-09-15 10:19:45