Swimlanes help distinguish what aspect of processes?

Swimlanes are a visual tool used in process mapping that clearly delineates the roles or responsibilities within a process flow. Each lane represents a specific actor, team, or department involved in the process, making it easy to identify who is responsible for each step. This clarity helps stakeholders understand the interactions and dependencies between different parts of the organization.

By using swimlanes, organizations can effectively illustrate how different roles collaborate to achieve a common goal, as well as identify potential bottlenecks or areas where responsibilities may overlap. This focus on roles and responsibilities is crucial for improving communication and accountability within teams, ultimately leading to better process management and execution.

Other options, such as process efficiency, tools and resources used, or project timelines, do not capture the primary function of swimlanes. While these elements might be part of a comprehensive process model, swimlanes specifically highlight the distribution of tasks among various roles, making them distinct and essential in understanding process ownership.