When work crosses departments, the delays hide between the teams. A Swimlane DiagramA process map organized into lanes by role, department, or system, highlighting handoffs between them. Also known as: Cross-Functional Map. Click term for full definition shows who does what, and where the work waits. Watch the short video, then work with the toolkit PDF: it explains the method, shows a worked example and gives you a blank template to fill in.
Tool video
The short tool video will appear here.
Swimlane Diagram in short
- Name the lanes. List every role, team or system involved and draw one lane for each.
- Set start and end. Place the start oval in the lane that triggers the process.
- Place steps by owner. Each step goes into the lane of the person or system doing it.
- Mark the handoffs. Every arrow that crosses a lane is a handoffThe point where work — material or information — moves from one lane to another. Click term for full definition. Highlight them.
- Look between the lanes. Note where work waits for the next lane. That waiting time is your biggest lever.
Key points
- One lane per role, team or system.
- Each step sits in its owner’s lane.
- Lane crossings are handoffs.
- Most waiting happens between the lanes.