Systems and Program Mapping Tools

Systems and Program Mapping Tools in Programming:

One of the most essential elements involved in computer programming is the overall organization of the system or program. To facilitate the task of keeping programs or systems organized, programmers have three very significant and valuable tools. These tools are System Flow, Structure Chart, and Detail Program Logic and they are System and Program Mapping tools.

System Flow Chart

A System Flow Chart is pictorial illustration of the physical flow of information through the entire program or system. The System Flow Chart is most utilized in analysis and outline of the program or system. The chart consists of symbols, such as lines and other symbols, to symbolize the arrangements of processes within the system or program, as well as the inputs and outputs to a process.

Structure Chart

A Structure Chart is a design utensil that graphically illustrates the correlation between processing modules in a program or system. The Structure Chart also defines the hierarchy of components modules and the data that is exchanged between them and consists of an analysis of the input-to-output changes and an analysis of operation. In addition, a Structure Chart depicts the association of processing modules in computer software. The Structure Chart can also be considered is a design tool, which shows the connections between program modules and the system module that interrelates and illustratively depicts the information that is communicated between various modules.

Detail Program Logic

A Detail Program Logic is a diagram chart that displays the flow of the logic proceeding through the modules. The diagram also depicts the branching logic that is in the program. Through the use of this diagram, the programmer should be able to identify how the different logic effects the variables inside of the program.

Systems and Program Mapping Tools outside Programming:

The Systems and Program Mapping Tools are diagrams that are not just confined to the world of computer programming, in fact, these concepts can be applied in a number of areas outside of computer programming. Now, even though there are a variety of areas that the Systems and Program Mapping Tools can be applied outside of programming, we are going to focus on an instance that would benefit a great deal from logical and relationship charting.

The non-programming environment example we will on, is the daily operations of a business. Let us imagine an outside person has been asked to look into business whose daily operations are struggling and are in need of improvement. In most cases, businesses have organizational charts that are valuable tools to govern relationships between people and their obligations. These charts can also help identify any unproductive areas within the business, which can hinder the company’s capability to perform efficiently.

Using company’s organizational chart and a variety of other methods (e.g. interviewing employees, observing processes, etc.) the outside person could potentially identify areas of weakness, such as employees who report to multiple people or even employees who do not report to anyone. These examples could result in inadequacies in certain areas, which would then make the organization inefficient. After the outside person determines all the elements of the organization chart, the company processes, and the outliers that are the basis of the company’s inadequacies, the outside person can recreate the organizational structure to eliminate the relationships and processes that were hindering the company’s ability to perform at an acceptable level.