Free Process Cycle PowerPoint Template

Visualizing Continuous and Iterative Processes

Not all processes have a clear beginning and end. Some repeat continuously—the output of one cycle becomes the input of the next. Others involve decision points where the path forward depends on evaluation results. These processes require visualizations that show flow, iteration, and decision logic.

Our template provides two process cycle formats: a full strategy cycle with decision gate for iterative workflows, and a wave-form profitability analysis for sequential breakdown processes. Both designs communicate movement and progression while remaining clear and professional.

Process Cycles vs. Traditional Flowcharts

Traditional flowcharts use rectangles (process steps), diamonds (decisions), and ovals (start/end points) connected by arrows. They excel at showing conditional logic with clear branching.

Process cycles serve a different purpose—they show iterative workflows where the output feeds back to the input. The visual emphasis is on the continuous nature of the process rather than conditional branching.

Use a traditional flowchart when:

• The process has a definite start and end
• Multiple conditional branches exist
• You need to show complex decision trees

Use a process cycle when:

• The process repeats continuously
• A decision gate determines "iterate or release"
• The emphasis is on the iterative nature

The Full Strategy Cycle

The strategy cycle template visualizes iterative processes with four main phases and a decision gate:

Receive Requirements: The process begins with input—specifications, requests, or objectives that define what the cycle should produce.

Develop Solution: The creative or analytical phase where the team produces something in response to requirements.

Implement Solution: The execution phase where the developed solution is put into practice or built.

Test & Present: The review phase where results are evaluated against requirements and presented to stakeholders.

After testing, a decision gate determines next steps: If the solution passes muster, it's released or completed. If not, the process cycles back for another round—another iteration incorporating feedback.

This pattern applies to product development, consulting engagements, software sprints, and any process where work is refined through successive passes.

Setting Clear Decision Criteria

The Yes/No decision point is the heart of the cycle diagram. Without clear criteria, the decision becomes arbitrary. Your slide should indicate what determines each path:

Product development example:

• Yes (Release): "All acceptance criteria met, no critical bugs, stakeholder sign-off obtained"
• No (Iterate): "One or more acceptance criteria not met, critical feedback requires design changes"

Consulting engagement example:

• Yes (Deliver): "Client satisfied with findings, recommendations are actionable, deliverable is complete"
• No (Iterate): "Additional analysis requested, recommendations need refinement, stakeholder concerns unresolved"

Even if you don't spell out full criteria on the slide, be prepared to articulate them in discussion. "How do we decide?" is a natural audience question.

The Profitability Wave Process

The wave diagram shows a different kind of process—a sequential analytical decomposition rather than an iterative cycle. It's based on the classic consulting framework for profitability analysis:

Step 1: Break profits into revenues and costs. This is the first-level split that identifies whether a profitability problem is revenue-driven or cost-driven.

Step 2: Break revenues into volume and price per unit. Revenue can decline because you're selling fewer units (volume) or because you're getting less per unit (price).

Step 3: Break costs into fixed costs and variable costs. Fixed costs don't change with volume; variable costs scale with production.

Step 4: Further decompose variable costs into volume and cost per unit. This parallels the revenue breakdown and identifies whether cost increases come from volume growth or unit cost inflation.

The wave visualization—flowing up and down through four phases—emphasizes the sequential nature of the breakdown. Each step builds on the previous one, progressively isolating the root cause of profitability changes.

When to Use Each Format

Use the iterative cycle when:

• The process genuinely repeats (output feeds back to input)
• A decision gate determines whether to continue or complete
• Multiple passes improve the output
• Stakeholders need to understand the feedback loop

Use the wave process when:

• The analysis follows a logical sequence
• Each step decomposes the previous step's findings
• There's no true repetition—just progressive breakdown
• The insight is about structure, not iteration

Don't force-fit your content into the wrong format. A linear analysis doesn't become iterative just because you draw it as a cycle.

Writing Action-Oriented Step Labels

Each step in your process should be labeled with an action verb. This creates clarity about who does what and emphasizes that processes require action, not just existence.

Passive labels (avoid):

• "Solution development"
• "Testing phase"
• "Requirements"

Active labels (prefer):

• "Develop solution"
• "Test and validate"
• "Receive requirements"

Active voice makes accountability clear. It answers "what does someone do here?" rather than "what exists at this stage?"

Indicating Process Entry and Exit

Every process needs a clear starting point. The strategy cycle template includes a "Start of Cycle" indicator so audiences know where to begin reading. Without this, cycle diagrams can be confusing—is the reader supposed to start at the top? The left?

Similarly, indicate exit points. In the strategy cycle, the "Release" checkpoint shows where completed work exits the process. In the wave diagram, the final step shows where the analysis concludes.

If your process has multiple entry or exit points, show them all. Some cycles have multiple triggers that can initiate the process, or multiple outcomes depending on the decision path.

Connecting Process Cycles to Strategy

Process visualizations answer "how does this work?" Use them alongside other templates that answer different questions:

The strategic initiatives template shows what initiatives you're pursuing. Process cycles show how one or more of those initiatives will be executed.

The recommendations list shows what you recommend. Process cycles show the methodology behind the recommendation or the process for implementing it.

The Gantt chart template shows when activities happen over time. Process cycles show the logical structure of what happens, abstracted from specific timing.

Position process diagrams where methodology matters—when you need stakeholders to understand not just what you'll deliver, but how you'll get there.