Swim lanes

A swimlane diagram, or just a “swimlane,” is essentially just a flowchart that visually distinguishes the sub processes and responsibilities undertaken by each actor within a business process. What distinguishes swimlanes from other flowcharts is that subprocesses and decisions are placed in separate lanes, hence the name swimlane diagram. Each separate lane distinguishes each person, group, or subprocess within a general business process. Each lane is labeled with the title of its respective actor. Swimlanes are most useful when diagramming a business process that involves more than one department within the business. They are used to clarify each of the steps within a process, who is responsible for each step, and how mistakes and or delays are most likely to occur. Swimlanes are used mainly for organizing the activities within a process into an easy to understand visual display. They serve to increase the productivity of an organization by making sure all actors are precisely aware of their responsibilities within a business process.