1. What is a functional flow chart?
The functional flow chart is a diagram illustrating the control of the product at the functional level through a graphical form of expression. Functional flowcharts are usually used as a tool in the mid-stage of product design. Through graphics, they can more clearly and intuitively convey the control of products at the functional level, such as functional actions, directions, logic and other information. It emphasizes the logic and causal relationship between functions, and can specifically express the functions contained in each page.
The functional flow chart has the function of looking at the overall situation and sorting out ideas. The process of drawing a functional flowchart can help product managers determine the functional scope of the product, think about the system's functional layout and the relationship between functions from top to bottom, and avoid unreasonable logic.
2. The difference between functional flow chart and other flow charts
There are often friends who cannot distinguish between business flow charts, function flow charts, and page flow charts. In fact, on the whole, product business flow charts, function flow charts, and page flow charts are staged products of product design.
Business flow chart, which describes all business modules and related connections of the product. It can be the process of the company's overall business, or the overall business of the product itself. It focuses on expressing the flow path of the product's business logic. The boss, the requester, etc. will pay more attention ;
Functional flowchart, which describes all functional modules and related connections of the product, and focuses on expressing the operation path of the product's functional logic. It is actually a refinement of the business flowchart. After the business flowchart is drawn, it is drawn before the product design begins, and it is aimed at product managers. and development engineers;
The page flow chart describes all the pages of the product and related connections, focusing on expressing the jump relationship between product page elements, which will be more concerned by front-end development engineers and UI designers.
The above three flow charts are divided according to the work content, focus, and related roles involved. It can be understood as a trilogy of product architecture, each with its own focus, and all of which play an important role in product work.
3. How to draw a functional flowchart?
Before understanding how to draw a functional flowchart, let's review the meaning of the commonly used graphic elements of the flowchart, so that each graphic can be used correctly in subsequent drawings.
1. Graphical elements commonly used in flowcharts
Start/End: Marked by an ellipse, representing the beginning or end of a flow. A flowchart follows a start, but can have multiple ends.
Process: Identified by a rectangle, which represents the actions or steps to be performed by the role.
Judgment: A diamond mark is used to represent the judgment condition, with one input and two outputs.
Process line: A straight line with an arrow, which represents the process execution steps or data direction, and is used to illustrate the collaborative relationship between roles.
Notes: generally used for explanations, can be used to describe the general process, and can also be used to explain the elements of the rules.
Sub-process: When individual activities are too complex, sub-processes can be used for detailed disassembly.
In specific operations, placing the mouse on the graph on the left will display the specific meaning of each graph.
2. How to draw a functional flowchart?
1) List the function of each node. According to the set user process of using the product, from the beginning to the end, the interaction between the user and the product lists the functions of each node. If multiple roles and multiple task lines are involved, choose a swim lane diagram (cross-functional flowchart) to draw.
2) Associate with directed arrows. Use directed arrows to connect functions, and note that the direction of the arrow represents the user's steps.
3) Increase the conditional judgment. Many functions have preconditions, please use directed arrows and supplemented by words. The so-called condition is the logic that needs to be judged by the front and back ends. Common conditions have 3 logical structures.
There are three basic structures of flowcharts: sequence structure, selection structure, and loop structure.
· Sequential structure : processing programs are executed sequentially
·Selection structure : the process carries out different processing procedures according to certain conditions
· Loop structure : Repeat the row processing program until a certain condition is met, that is, until the condition becomes true
4) Check the process for errors.
Share a few functional flow charts for reference
1. Login-Function Flowchart
2. Functional flow chart of e-commerce module
3. Excel batch upload function flow chart
4. Flow chart of Pinduoduo bargaining function
From business to function to specific page design, the product is a process from abstraction to concrete implementation. In this process, to ensure the integrity of product functions and the rigor of the process, the product function flow chart plays a pivotal role. I hope it can help you more Quickly master the drawing of functional flow charts.