What is the Difference Between a Flowchart and a Workflow Diagram?

Laura Parker
Jul 2024
Efficient process documentation is essential for businesses aiming to enhance productivity and maintain consistency. Flowcharts and workflow diagrams are two popular tools used in workflow process mapping, but they serve different purposes and offer unique benefits. Understanding these differences can help organizations choose the right tool for their needs, ensuring smooth operations and better outcomes.

Utilizing effective workflow software can significantly improve how processes are documented and executed. Such software allows for the creation of both flowcharts and workflow diagrams, providing visual representations that make complex processes easier to understand and manage. An example of a workflow diagram often includes elements such as tasks, decision points, and process flows, which highlight the interaction between different components of a process.

In this article, we will explore the fundamental differences between a workflow diagram and a flowchart, discuss the availability of flowchart templates in Word, clarify whether flowcharts and flow diagrams are the same, and define what a workflow is. By the end, you’ll have a clearer understanding of these tools and how they can benefit your business processes.

Example of workflow diagram!

What is the Difference Between a Flowchart and a Workflow Diagram?

What is the difference between a workflow diagram and a flowchart

A workflow diagram and a flowchart are both essential tools in workflow process mapping, yet they cater to different needs and complexities within an organization. 

Workflow Diagram: A detailed representation of a business process, capturing all the steps, decision points, and interactions among different stakeholders. It provides a comprehensive view of how tasks flow from one stage to another, making it easier to identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and areas for improvement.

Flowchart: Typically simpler and used to depict linear processes or specific steps within a broader workflow. Flowcharts use standard symbols such as rectangles, diamonds, and arrows to represent different actions, decisions, and the flow of control. While they are great for illustrating straightforward processes, they may not fully capture the complexity of more intricate workflows that involve multiple variables and decision points.

Understanding these differences is crucial for effective workflow process mapping. By choosing the right tool, businesses can ensure their processes are well-documented, transparent, and easy to follow. This not only enhances efficiency but also supports continuous improvement efforts.

Is there a flow chart template in Word

While Microsoft Word offers basic tools for creating flowcharts, it does not come with dedicated flowchart templates. Users have to manually insert shapes and connectors to build their diagrams, which can be time-consuming and cumbersome, especially for more complex processes. Additionally, Word’s flowcharting capabilities are limited, making it challenging to create professional and detailed diagrams.

Flowcharts use a variety of flowchart symbols like rectangles for process steps, diamonds for decision points, and arrows to indicate the flow of control. Although these symbols can be added manually in Word, the process lacks the efficiency and intuitiveness needed for robust process mapping.

In contrast, beSlick offers a comprehensive library of templates and tools specifically designed for creating detailed and effective flowcharts and workflow diagrams. These templates come preloaded and are fully customizable, allowing users to quickly and easily map out their processes. With beSlick‘s user-friendly interface and advanced features, businesses can create, modify, and optimize their workflow diagrams with ease, leading to improved productivity and streamlined operations.

Is flowchart and flow diagram the same

The terms flowchart and flow diagram are often used interchangeably, but they can have distinct meanings depending on the context. Both are visual representations of a process, but their usage and detail levels can vary.

Flowcharts: Typically used for simpler, linear processes. They utilize flowchart symbols such as rectangles, diamonds, and arrows to represent steps, decisions, and the flow of control. Flowcharts are ideal for illustrating straightforward processes, making them easy to understand and follow.

Flow Diagrams: Refer to more complex representations of a process that might include multiple variables, loops, and conditional paths. They provide a more comprehensive view of the interactions and dependencies within a process.

When creating these visual aids, using a dedicated flowchart maker like beSlick can significantly enhance the efficiency and quality of your diagrams. beSlick’s flowchart maker offers:

Choosing the right tool ensures that your process mapping is accurate, professional, and conducive to identifying areas for improvement.

What is a workflow

A workflow is a sequence of tasks or activities that are systematically organized to achieve a specific goal. Workflows outline how tasks are structured, who is responsible for each task, and the timeline for completion. Effective workflows are crucial for ensuring efficiency, accountability, and consistency within an organization.

A workflow diagram template is a valuable tool for visualizing these processes. It provides a pre-designed framework that helps users quickly map out their workflows, ensuring all necessary steps and decision points are included. Workflow diagram templates typically feature:

  • Clear representations of tasks and subtasks.
  • Decision points that guide the flow based on different conditions.
  • Assignments of responsibilities to specific individuals or teams.
  • Defined timelines and deadlines for each task.

Using beSlick‘s workflow diagram templates, businesses can streamline their process mapping. These templates are designed to be user-friendly, allowing even those with minimal technical skills to document and manage workflows effectively. With features like dynamic due dates, forms, and group access, beSlick’s templates help in creating detailed and actionable workflow diagrams.

By implementing well-structured workflows, organizations can reduce errors, improve visibility, and enhance overall efficiency. This not only supports better service delivery but also makes scaling operations more manageable.

What is the Difference Between a Flowchart and a Workflow Diagram?

Streamline Your Business Processes with Effective Tools

Understanding the difference between flowcharts and workflow diagrams, and knowing when to use each, can greatly enhance your business’s efficiency and productivity. Leveraging specialized tools like beSlickhttps://beslick.com/why-it-works/’s workflow software can transform the way you document, manage, and optimize your processes.

By using beSlick’s extensive library of templates and advanced features, you can create professional, detailed workflow diagrams and flowcharts with ease. This not only saves time but also ensures accuracy and consistency across your organization. Effective workflow process mapping leads to fewer mistakes, better visibility, and improved service delivery.

Ready to streamline your processes? Explore beSlick’s powerful workflow software and template library today to take your process management to the next level.

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, Author of The Dirty Word and CEO at beSlick

Alister Esam is a successful entrepreneur and investor, having bootstrapped his fintech software business eShare to international status operating in over 40 countries and servicing 20,000 board directors, before successfully exiting to a multibillion-dollar organisation in 2018. He now invests in a variety of startups and on a global mission to make work, work.