1. Information Flows

2. Information
Accurate, up-to-date, timely information is fundamental to the success of all organisations
Information is used to
Plan
Forecast
Make decisions
Structure
Model and control
Strategic planning requires information to make long term decisions eg expanding, new premises
Operational Control requires information for the day to day running of the organisation eg weekly sales targets

3. Information Flows
Information flows throughout an organisation from one functional area to another sideways and also up and down between staff and managers
Information flows are all triggered by events eg. A customer placing an order.

4. Information Flow Diagrams
These diagrams are used to show the type of information that flows between organisation functions/departments and external influence.
Naming parts of your diagram
Type of information and direction of flow
Department or external influence in a box

5. Sideways Flow Flow across one area to another
Sales person takes order form customer then passes that order to the production department so that the goods can be made 1
Order form
Sales
Production 2
Delivery Note and goods

6. Up Flow, Down Flow Between levels of management and staff
Sales person also will need to pass the details up to their manager so that the manager can compare the sales person’s performance against their targets and set new targets for sales person

7. Operational
Product
Department
Internal
External

8. Information flow Diagram
Details of the information flow are added to the line of flow
Sales Manager 2
Next months target
Order details 3
Sales person (internal)
Places order 1
Customer (external)

9. Information Flow for placing an order
Supplier
Accounts
Warehouse
(Order stock item that is low in stock)
1. Order
2. Goods (DN)
DN Delivery Note
5. Payment
4. Statement
3. Copy of DN
2. Invoice
1. Copy of Order