Systems Development

System Flowcharts
Once the information about a system has
been collected and analysed, it is time to
start the Design phase.
System flowcharts are a popular way of
planning a design graphically
It represents a high-level picture of a
physical system
Each discrete component is represented by
a separate symbol
Systems Flowcharts
Process
This could be a program or manual
process

Input/Output
This could be data keyed in at a keyboard,
a barcode read with a bar code reader, an
Device error report output on a printer, a graph
shown on a monitor

Online Storage
This could be a database on a magnetic
Device disk, a datafile on CD/RW

Flow Line
Links the symbols to define sequence and
direction of flow
Systems Flowcharts

Example:
A system is used to produce monthly
statements for account customers of a
builders merchant.
A computer program reads transactions from
a keyboard and updates the customer file on
magnetic disk.
The program sends the monthly statements
to the printer. Any errors are sent to an error
log on magnetic tape.
Systems Flowcharts

Transactions

Keyboard

Monthly
Customer File Produce Monthly
Statements
Statements

Printer
Magnetic Disk

Error Log File

Magnetic Tape