General
swim lane
What does swim lane mean?
The distinct scope of work or responsibility assigned to a person or team, so efforts don't overlap.
"Stay in your swim lane, that decision is marketing's."
Origin
From swim-lane diagrams in process mapping.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'swim lane' mean at work?
It refers to the distinct scope of work or responsibility assigned to a person or team, so their efforts don't overlap with others.
Where does the term come from?
From swim-lane diagrams in process mapping, where each horizontal lane shows which party is responsible for which steps.
What does 'stay in your swim lane' mean?
It's a way of telling someone to stick to their own area of responsibility and not interfere with decisions that belong to another team.
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