1

Mathematical Application of Flowcharts in IT

Name of Student
Name of Institute
Date of Submission
 2

Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................................3
Reasons of choosing application of Flow Charts in IT................................................................................3
Application of Flowcharts in IT firms..........................................................................................................4
Generic Algorithm for Mathematical Operations......................................................................................4
Trace Table..................................................................................................................................................5
Reflection Statement..................................................................................................................................7
Conclusion...................................................................................................................................................8
References..................................................................................................................................................8
 3

Introduction
Mathematical interrelation with technology helps in the creation and transmission of data currently. It
has made an important part of our current of everyday life through knowledge spread. Flow charts in
this scenario are an important mathematical symbol tool which finds numerous applications in
information technology. Designing flow charts for IT programs helps to make the processes and saves
time for long codes. Original inputs for any technological firms are less important than the process of
transforming these inputs to outputs (Jacobs et al., 2004). The objective of this assignment is to explain
the need of flow charts in information spread in the current technological environment.

Reasons of choosing application of Flow Charts in IT

 Pseudocode

The structure of pseudocode is not universal but there are some basic guidelines that every
company follows more or less.

1. Single statements per line

2. Capitalized keywords

3. Hierarchical indentation and nested statements

4. Clearly ending nested structures

5. Keeping the pseudocode language independent

 Advantages of Flowcharts

1. Standardized structure and universal

2. They have visual illustrations to represent the data in a hierarchy.

 Limitations of Pseudocodes

1. They are not visual provided in pseudocodes and they rely on flowcharts
 4

2. No standardized format of formulating codes. Hence, varies throughout different

organizations and in different computer networks.  

 Comparison of flowcharts & Pseudocodes

1. Pseudocode is very low maintenance and easy to create using a word processor, but flowcharts
provide pictorial representation.

2. Flowcharts helps in managing risks since they provide decision making structures.

3. Pseudocodes need professional understanding of IT terminologies while flowcharts provide

visuals which are easily understandable.

4. Modifications are very easy against the complexity of large flowcharts and creating flowcharts
are also time-consuming

5. Pseudocodes gives well-structured explanation of all the requirements. Flowcharts are good in
summarizing details of length structured codes.

6. Pseudocodes are easy to translate to programmers as opposed to flowcharts, but flowcharts are
easier for general audience to understand.

7. May clarify algorithms to programmers better than flowcharts

8. Codes can help with program logic and avoid mistakes in the coding phase but are unable to
explain any hierarchy.

9. Overall costs of design and developments of pseudo codes may remain lower than using
flowcharts.

Application of Flowcharts in IT firms

Flowcharts are the key to any process design, and it helps to generate profit for the organization. Not
having the right people for the job will affect the process design. Operational managers can utilize
flowcharts in IT technologies to become more effective in their methodologies if they understand how
process design works (Syahidi et al., 2020). Understanding the different metrics and how they can be
used to evaluate different process design is crucial for any operation; flowcharts also tells a firm if
progress is being made toward improvement. Since flowcharts are in a hierarchy and each module is
linked with other through arrow sign in a flowchart. Therefore, for an integrated communication
approach the flowcharts help in building linkage between components. Understanding the various
factors that affect a process design will a company an added advantage of how to handle a crisis in case
of an emergency. Improving any process will reward the user with increased satisfaction knowing he is
working smarter.

Examples of Flow Charts & Algorithms

 5

Designing a flow chart and its algorithm requires a series of steps to be followed. Following section will
give examples of how flowcharts work by illustrating different segments of a program while algorithm of
each of these generic flow charts will be described. There will also be a trace table involved in any
generic process which will provide the value of each variable at each level.

Generic Algorithm for Mathematical Operations

1. Start
2. Input Operation Variables
3. Initializing Variable A & B Value [Initializing input values]
4. Defining Returning Variable [Initializing return value variable which can be sum, product etc.]
5. Defining Operation Expression

Return Variable = Variable A (operation sign to be performed such as *,%,-,<,>,+) Variable B

6. Defining loops or iteration to be followed.

LOOP (Return Variable = Value)

[Defining condition statements involved]

IF condition THEN
sequence 1
ELSE
sequence 2
ENDIF

END LOOP

7. Output Value

Print Return Variable

8. Stop

Trace Table
Loop Operation Variable A Variable B Output

Algorithm of IT Programs
Step 1: Start
 6

Step 2: Creation of variable for receiving information [Defining Variable]

Step 3: Clearing previous values of variable

Step 4: Storing new value in variable [Initializing Value]

Step 5: Checking the value of variable

Step 6: If not valid, go back to Step 3

Stop 7 End.

All of the processes of the above two algorithms will be presented in a single flow chart in below
example.
 7

Flow Chart

Start

Defining Variables of
Operation

Data analysis

Predefined Process

Decision

Output Value

END
 8

While designing any flow chart it is necessary to present the information in the way it is occurring.
Documenting of each process is always done in the sequence in which it is happening. Flowchart helps in
modifying current processes to efficient systems. Algorithm of the flowchart helps in comparing the
process flow. If there are any issues in the flow chart, the algorithm helps in improving process. As you
can see from the above example algorithms don’t explain much about the if condition statement of the
process. Flowchart explains all the mental steps in the process such as decisions. Flowcharts can help in
selecting out of two or more processes as well. Pseudo codes give high level description of the algorithm
while flowchart helps in pictorial representation. In next section there will be examples of areas in which
algorithms have limitations.

If
Condition

Task A Task B

The above flowchart portion shows the case selection structure which the algorithm can’t explain
properly. Therefore at times when programs need there is a need to select a conditional statement all
the computer languages provide a mean for selection. However, pseudo codes developed may help in
this matter in proper defining of if-else structure.

Psuedo Code
If condition is true
Then do Task A
else
Do Task B
There are certain limitations to which both flow charts and algorithms can’t proceed. However,
flowcharts due to their conditional and iterative orientation helps in covering almost all the IT problems.

Reflection Statement
The article explains the advantages and applications of introducing flowcharts in IT projects. The reason
for choosing flow chart’s application in IT is due to their effectiveness in conveying information through
visual illustrations. There is a comparison presented in the initial section of the report where
pseudocodes are compared with flowcharts and an understanding of how flowcharts are better than
 9

algorithms is presented. The report explains comparison of generic algorithms with flow charts.
Computer algorithms are simpler and saves time while designing but they lack hierarchy and integration
in information.

Conclusion
Flowcharts are used in information technology during the planning, documenting and designing a
project. They provide decision trees to provide help in selecting any business decision. IT companies
while setting configurations of large scale software and hardware systems use flowcharts. They provide
clear workflows and helps out in minimizing the error. This report has focused on different applications
of flowcharts in information technology and explains the advantages of choosing flowcharts over
algorithm based pseudocodes. Given flowchart shows how the algorithms are limited in their scope as
compare to flow charts.

References
Celko, J., 1999. Joe Celko's data and databases: concepts in practice. Morgan Kaufmann.
Jacobs, F.R., Chase, R.B. and Aquilano, N.J., 2004. Operations management for competitive
advantage. Boston: Mc-Graw Hill, 64, p.70.
Syahidi, A.A., Tolle, H., Supianto, A.A. and Hirashima, T., 2020. A Preliminary Study: Applying Problem-
Posing Learning Models on Algorithm and Flowchart Materials in Basic Programming Class. Jurnal Kajian
Teknologi Pendidikan, 3(2), pp.109-124.