Business Process Diagramming

Owned by Jodie Miners
Last updated: Jan 07, 2015
2 min read

To create diagrams, I a few different tools. 

Diagrams

Lucidchart - basically the closest I can get to Visio whilst using a mac. Yes, I like it so much that I pay for it. I use Lucidchart for: 

  • ERD Diagrams
  • Swim Lane Diagrams
  • Simple flowcharts

(yes, I would like to use one of the tools that integrates with Confluence, but they just don't cut it with some of the visio-like features of layout and snapping). 

(yes, you can do sequence diagrams in Lucidchart, but why, when there are much easier ways to create them - automatically). 

Graphviz is the tool of choice for flowcharts - see my tutorial about using it in Confluence (unless you use Confluence On Demand). 

 For sketching out flowcharts on the iPad, I LOVE LOVE LOVE Instaviz

Mockups

Balsamiq for Mockups and Wireframes where necessary (yep, paid for that too). 

 For prototyping quickly on the iPad I love Adobe Proto (yep, bought that one too, but it is no longer updated). 

Sequence Diagrams

Sequence diagrams for quickly and easily documenting a processs. 

For sequence diagrams you can use. 

But I use Plant UML and the excellent plugin for Sublime Text (yep, I paid for Sublime Text too - see MavensMate and Git for Non Developers as to how I use Sublime Text for Salesforce work). 

Why I like sequence diagrams and the setup I use:

  • I can save versions in dropbox
  • Typing out the process helps solidify in your mind what the exact steps are, and therefore what work is involved
  • I can quickly generate images of the process
  • Images help to show the process to the client. 
  • You have to be clear in your process to make a good sequence diagram
  • I don't do any colours or fancy formatting - just the process. 

And no, I am NOT strict about my UML conventions (see the diagram I made for Building a "Simple" Case Management Process), just enough to show the client what is possible.