Swim lane
Encyclopedia
A swim lane is a visual element used in process flow diagram
s, or flowcharts, that visually distinguishes responsibilities for sub-processes of a business process
. Swim lanes may be arranged either horizontally or vertically. In the accompanying example, the swimlanes are named Customer, Sales, Contracts, Legal, and Fulfillment, and are arranged vertically.
The swim lane flowchart differs from other flowcharts in that processes and decisions are grouped visually by placing them in lanes. Parallel lines divide the chart into lanes, with one lane for each person, group or subprocess. Lanes are labelled to show how the chart is organized.
In the accompanying example, the vertical direction represents the sequence of events in the overall process, while the horizontal divisions depict what subprocess is performing that step. Arrows between the lanes represent how information or material is passed between the subprocesses.
Optionally, the flow can be rotated so that the sequence reads horizontally from left to right, with the roles involved being shown at the left edge. This can be easier to read and design, since computer screens are typically wider than they are tall, which gives an improved view of the flow. Additionally, Microsoft Visio
typically displays activities horizontally from left to right.
Use of standard symbols enables clear linkage to be shown between related flow charts when charting flows with complex relationships: use of hyperlinks makes movement between activities on different sheets easy.
Swimlanes can be used in manufacturing-related applications to help clarify the overall layout of the processes and help optimize floor capacity and efficiency.
When used to diagram a business process that involves more than one department, the use of swimlanes can clarify not only the steps and who is responsible for each one, but also how delays, mistakes or cheating are most likely to occur.
Many process modeling methodologies utilize the concept of swimlanes as a mechanism to organize activities into separate visual categories in order to illustrate different functional capabilities or responsibilities. Swimlanes are used in Business Process Modeling Notation
(BPMN) and Unified Modeling Language
activity diagram
modeling methodologies.
Flowchart
A flowchart is a type of diagram that represents an algorithm or process, showing the steps as boxes of various kinds, and their order by connecting these with arrows. This diagrammatic representation can give a step-by-step solution to a given problem. Process operations are represented in these...
s, or flowcharts, that visually distinguishes responsibilities for sub-processes of a business process
Business process
A business process or business method is a collection of related, structured activities or tasks that produce a specific service or product for a particular customer or customers...
. Swim lanes may be arranged either horizontally or vertically. In the accompanying example, the swimlanes are named Customer, Sales, Contracts, Legal, and Fulfillment, and are arranged vertically.
The swim lane flowchart differs from other flowcharts in that processes and decisions are grouped visually by placing them in lanes. Parallel lines divide the chart into lanes, with one lane for each person, group or subprocess. Lanes are labelled to show how the chart is organized.
In the accompanying example, the vertical direction represents the sequence of events in the overall process, while the horizontal divisions depict what subprocess is performing that step. Arrows between the lanes represent how information or material is passed between the subprocesses.
Optionally, the flow can be rotated so that the sequence reads horizontally from left to right, with the roles involved being shown at the left edge. This can be easier to read and design, since computer screens are typically wider than they are tall, which gives an improved view of the flow. Additionally, Microsoft Visio
Microsoft Visio
Microsoft Visio , formerly known as Microsoft Office Visio, is a commercial diagramming program for Microsoft Windows that uses vector graphics to create diagrams.- Features :...
typically displays activities horizontally from left to right.
Use of standard symbols enables clear linkage to be shown between related flow charts when charting flows with complex relationships: use of hyperlinks makes movement between activities on different sheets easy.
Swimlanes can be used in manufacturing-related applications to help clarify the overall layout of the processes and help optimize floor capacity and efficiency.
When used to diagram a business process that involves more than one department, the use of swimlanes can clarify not only the steps and who is responsible for each one, but also how delays, mistakes or cheating are most likely to occur.
Many process modeling methodologies utilize the concept of swimlanes as a mechanism to organize activities into separate visual categories in order to illustrate different functional capabilities or responsibilities. Swimlanes are used in Business Process Modeling Notation
Business Process Modeling Notation
Business Process Model and Notation is a graphical representation for specifying business processes in a business process model. It was previously known as Business Process Modeling Notation....
(BPMN) and Unified Modeling Language
Unified Modeling Language
Unified Modeling Language is a standardized general-purpose modeling language in the field of object-oriented software engineering. The standard is managed, and was created, by the Object Management Group...
activity diagram
Activity diagram
Activity diagrams are graphical representations of workflows of stepwise activities and actions with support for choice, iteration and concurrency. In the Unified Modeling Language, activity diagrams can be used to describe the business and operational step-by-step workflows of components in a system...
modeling methodologies.
Alternate terms
A swim lane may also be referred to as a functional band (as it is in Visio 2007) and is used in the same way, to create a cross functional flowchart to map a process within the functional units of a business. The term functional band precedes the use of swimlane and is seemingly in decline as the preferred term.Origin
The origin of the term swim lane is not clear. One possibility is as part of the JBoss jBPM jPDL (Process Definition Language) graphical process designer a part of the JBoss jBPM framework for process languages.External links
- Swimlane Guidelines, Agile ModelingAgile ModelingAgile Modeling is a practice-based methodology for modeling and documentation of software-based systems. It is intended to be a collection of values, principles, and practices for Modeling software that can be applied on a software development project in a more flexible manner than traditional...
, Process MappingBusiness Process MappingBusiness process mapping refers to activities involved in defining exactly what a business entity does, who is responsible, to what standard a process should be completed and how the success of a business process can be determined. Once this is done, there can be no uncertainty as to the...