What is a significant benefit of using swim-lanes in an activity diagram?

Using swim-lanes in an activity diagram provides significant clarity regarding roles and responsibilities within processes. By dividing the diagram into distinct lanes that are labeled with the names of individuals, teams, or departments, swim-lanes visually separate the activities completed by different parties. This clarity helps stakeholders easily understand who is responsible for each part of a process, which can lead to better communication, accountability, and ultimately more efficient workflow.

While detailed reporting, graphical appeal, and cost analysis are important aspects of business process documentation and analysis, they do not capture the primary advantage of swim-lanes. The main purpose of swim-lanes is to delineate the responsibilities, making it easier to identify which actor performs which task in a complex process situation. This understanding is crucial for successful project execution and resource management.