
A structure chart (SC) in
software engineering
Software engineering is a branch of both computer science and engineering focused on designing, developing, testing, and maintaining Application software, software applications. It involves applying engineering design process, engineering principl ...
and
organizational theory
Organizational theory refers to a series of interrelated concepts that involve the sociological study of the structures and operations of formal social organizations. Organizational theory also seeks to explain how interrelated units of organiza ...
is a
chart
A chart (sometimes known as a graph) is a graphics, graphical representation for data visualization, in which "the data is represented by symbols, such as bars in a bar chart, lines in a line chart, or slices in a pie chart". A chart can repres ...
which shows the smallest of a system to its lowest manageable levels.
[IRS (2008) "Configuration Management" In: ''IRS Resources Part 2. Information Technol Chapter 27. Configuration Management''. Accessed a]
IRS.GOV
14 November 2008. No longer online 8 November 2009. They are used in
structured programming Structured programming is a programming paradigm aimed at improving the clarity, quality, and development time of a computer program by making specific disciplined use of the structured control flow constructs of selection ( if/then/else) and repet ...
to arrange program modules into a tree. Each module is represented by a box, which contains the module's name. The tree structure visualizes the relationships between modules.
Overview

A structure chart is a
top-down modular design tool, constructed of squares representing the different modules in the
system
A system is a group of interacting or interrelated elements that act according to a set of rules to form a unified whole. A system, surrounded and influenced by its open system (systems theory), environment, is described by its boundaries, str ...
, and lines that connect them. The lines represent the connection and or ownership between activities and subactivities as they are used in
organization charts.
[H. Fujita & V. Gruhn (2004). ''New Trends in Software Methodologies, Tools and Techniques''. Page 6.]
In
structured analysis structure charts, according to Wolber (2009), "are used to specify the high-level design, or architecture, of a
computer program
A computer program is a sequence or set of instructions in a programming language for a computer to Execution (computing), execute. It is one component of software, which also includes software documentation, documentation and other intangibl ...
. As a design tool, they aid the programmer in dividing and conquering a large software problem, that is, recursively breaking a problem down into parts that are small enough to be understood by a human brain. The process is called
top-down design, or
functional decomposition. Programmers use a structure chart to build a program in a manner similar to how an architect uses a blueprint to build a house. In the design stage, the chart is drawn and used as a way for the client and the various software designers to communicate. During the actual building of the program (implementation), the chart is continually referred to as "the master-plan".
[David Wolber (2009)]
Structure Charts
Supplementary Notes Structure Charts and Bottom-up Implementation: Java Version. Accessed 8 November 2009
A structure chart depicts
[
* the size and complexity of the system, and
* number of readily identifiable functions and modules within each function and
* whether each identifiable function is a manageable entity or should be broken down into smaller components.
A structure chart is also used to ]diagram
A diagram is a symbolic Depiction, representation of information using Visualization (graphics), visualization techniques. Diagrams have been used since prehistoric times on Cave painting, walls of caves, but became more prevalent during the Age o ...
associated elements that comprise a run stream or thread. It is often developed as a hierarchical diagram, but other representations are allowable. The representation must describe the breakdown of the configuration system into subsystems and the lowest manageable level. An accurate and complete structure chart is the key to the determination of the configuration items (CI), and a visual representation of the configuration system and the internal interfaces among its CIs(define CI clearly). During the configuration control process, the structure chart is used to identify CIs and their associated artifacts that a proposed change may impact.[
]
Structure chart construction
According to Wolber (2009), "a structure chart can be developed starting with the creating of a structure, which places the root of an upside-down tree which forms the structure chart. The next step is to conceptualize the main sub-tasks that must be performed by the program to solve the problem. Next, the programmer focuses on each sub-task individually, and conceptualizes how each can be broken down into even smaller tasks. Eventually, the program is broken down to a point where the leaves of the tree represent simple methods that can be coded with just a few program statements".[
In practice, see figure, first it is checked if a structure chart has been developed already. If so an expert needs to review it to ensure it represents the current structure and if not, updates the chart where needed.][
]
See also
* Computer-aided software engineering
Computer-aided software engineering (CASE) is a domain of software tools used to design and implement applications. CASE tools are similar to and are partly inspired by computer-aided design (CAD) tools used for designing hardware products. CASE ...
* System context diagram
* Decomposition diagram
* Function model
* HIPO
* Structured Analysis and Design Technique
* Warnier/Orr diagram
* Work breakdown structure
A work-breakdown structure (WBS) in project management and systems engineering is a breakdown of a project into smaller components. It is a key project management element that organizes the team's work into manageable sections. The Project Mana ...
References
Further reading
* Sarah Brooks (1981). "Structure Charts and Basic Programming". in: ''MATYC Journal'', v15 n2 p. 107-112 Spring 1981.
* Tom DeMarco (1979). ''Structured Analysis and System Specification''. Prentice Hall.
* Edward Yourdon
Edward Nash Yourdon (April 30, 1944 – January 20, 2016) was an American software engineer, computer consultant, author and lecturer, and software engineering methodology pioneer. He was one of the lead developers of the structured analysis tec ...
(1999). ''Modern Structured Analysis'', Yourdon Press Computing Series, 1999,
External links
Structure charts
Overview.
a series of examples.
Structure Charts
(.doc).
{{Authority control
Charts
Systems analysis