1.9
Fill Media Lane
Add all Data-Carriers
A data-carrier is the medium used to transfer data from one person to another. This can be forms, screens of an IT system, emails, phone-calls or even verbal messages.
From every data-carrier used, use a representation and stick it in the middle part of the form.
The middle part of the form contains all forms, screens etc that are being used to transfer data from one person to the other
Media Lane:
What data carriers are being used?
What is a ‘Data Carrier’?
To transfer data from one person to another, one or more ‘data-carriers’ will be used. The data-carrier is the medium which is used to communicate, to transport data from one person to the other.
This can be a form, a screen looking into a database, an email, but also a telephone call or a verbal transfer.
What is a ‘Media Lane’ in Makigami?
The media-lane visualizes what data-carriers are being used to carry the data in the activities. It is not intended to follow the data-carrier, however if needed you might do so.
What to achieve with the media lane?
My experience is that it is enough to visualize the enormous masses of data-carriers. It convinces that there is a lot of redundancy and not needed complexity. Goal Achieved! No more need for extra analysis of the loss!
The principle: Once a loss has been identified, instead of further describing, following and analyzing, get rid of it!
That is the main purpose of the current state Makigami! To Visualize where the losses are. Once you can see them: eliminate them!
Fill the Media Lane with Data Carriers
Documents, screenshots or other elements that are exchanged across steps in a process, may move with the activities up and down the lanes. Or, of course, die temporarily or permanently in a box or holding area for approval, etc.
Just place the data-carries below the activity where it is being used.
Usually that is enough to see where the problems are.
How to handle ‘Visual Data’such as Kanban or FIFO?
Sometimes, like in this picture, the data-carrier is a box, or a location (Two-bin and FiFo buffers): A nice picture will do!
Just place the data-carries below the activity where it is being used.
Usually that is enough to see where the problems are.
When the media lane gets (too) crowded
Sometimes the media lane gets quite crowded on the map… Perfect! It visualizes the chaotic paperwork! Do not try to make it look nice! When things are ugly, show them ugly!
IDEF0 diagram
How does the depiction compare, say, with showing “mechanisms” on an IDEF0 diagram? Here, vertical arrows from the bottom border of the chart show how a computer program or tool correlates to a process box.
Note that with IDEF0, a document or procedural item can point to the top of a box if it controls or governs that task.
In this case, more detail is needed as to how the physical or electronic pieces move about, change custody, and get transformed or stalled.
We normally do not use this level of detail since mostly it does not add much extra value for the purpose we make the map.
However: if it does add value for your purpose, tie the media in the medialane with vertical arrows to the activity it belongs to and you are done.
