Swim lane
A horizontal row or vertical column in a process diagram assigned to a team or role. Activities placed in each lane show responsibility; connections between activities show sequence and handoffs.
Swim lane in practice
Hypothetical: a diligence process diagram shows operations assessing a supplier’s technical suitability, handing findings to legal for contract review, and then to finance to estimate the financial impact. A supplier issue can involve all three lanes. The diagram identifies an accountable owner, handoffs, and an escalation route rather than assuming every issue belongs to only one team.