Chapter 3 and Visio
computer processing
A computer-performed processing function; usually results in a change in data or information
manual operation
A processing operation performed manually
off page connector
An entry from, or an exit to, another page
on page connector
Connects the processing flow on the same page; its usage avoids lines crisscrossing a page
document or processing flow
Direction of processing or document flow; normal flow is down and to the right
electronic input and output device
Electronic data entry and output symbols are used together to show a device used for both
Electronic data entry
Electronic data entry device such as a computer, terminal, tablet, or phone
context diagram
Highest-level DFD (Data flow diagram); a summary-level view of a system, showing the data processing system, its input(s) and output(s), and their sources and destinations.
electronic output
Information displayed by an electronic output device such as a terminal, monitor, or screen
journal/ledger
Paper-based accounting journals and ledgers
terminal
a beginning, end, or point of interruption in a process; also used to indicate an external party
decision
a decision making step
decision (business process diagram)
a decision, with a brief description fo the activity inside the symbol
d. the flow of forms that relate to a particular transaction through an organization
a document flowchart represents: a. the sequence of logical operations performed during the execution of a computer program b. the possible combinations of alternative logic conditions and corresponding courses of action for each new condition in a computer program c. the flow of data through a series of operations in an automated data processing system d. the flow of forms that relate to a particular transaction through an organization
business process diagram
a visual way to describe the different steps or activities in a business process
processes
actions that transform data into other data or information
annotation
addition of descriptive comments or explanatory notes as clarification
activity in a process (business process diagram)
an activity, with a brief description of the activity inside the symbol
document
an electronic or paper document or report
database
data stored electronically in a database
magnetic tape
data stored on a magnetic tape; tapes are popular back up storage mediums
internal control flowchart
used to describe, analyze, and evaluate internal controls, including identifying system strengths, weaknesses, and inefficiencies
flowchart
uses a specialized set of input/output, processing, storage, flow, and other symbols to describe pictorially several different aspects of a system
narrative description
written, step-by-step explanation of system components and how they interact
paper document file
file of paper documents; letters indicate file-ordering sequence: N=numerically, A=alphabetically, D=by date
flow (business process diagram)
flow of data or information during the process
-data sources and destinations -data flows -transformation processes -data stores
four basic elements of DFD
-input/output -processing -storage -flow and misc.
four categories of document flowchart symbols
data flow diagram
graphical description of how data flows from a data source through transformation processes to data stores and destinations
1. understand the system 2. identify what is to be flowcharted 3. organize your flowchart
guidelines for preparing flowcharts
a. Entities b. Documents and data flows c. Data processing procedures d. Business processes
guidelines for preparing flowcharts - identify what is to be flowcharted
a. Interview b. Administer c. Read through d. Walk through
guidelines for preparing flowcharts - understand the systems
multiple copies of paper document
illustrated by overlapping the document symbol and printing the document number on the face of the document in the upper right corner
documentation
narratives, flowcharts, diagrams, and other written materials that explain how a system works
system flowchart
pictorially depicts the relationships among system input, processing, storage, and output
document flowchart
pictorially illustrates the flow of documents and data among areas of responsibility within an organization
program flowchart
pictorially illustrates the sequence of logical operations performed by a computer in executing a program
annotation information (business process diagram)
related information that helps explains something in the process to a symbol
end (business process diagram)
the end of a process
data source
the entity that produces or sends the data that is entered into a system
data destination
the entity that receives data produced by a system
data flow
the movement of data among processes, stores, sources, and destinations
data store
the place or medium where system data is stored
start/begin (business process diagram)
the start or beginning of a process
communication link
transmission of data from one geographic location to another via communication lines