What methodology involves the visual representation of steps in a process?

The methodology that involves the visual representation of steps in a process is storyboarding. Storyboarding is a technique often used in project management and design where a sequence of images or diagrams is used to represent and communicate the flow of a process or a project visually. It allows stakeholders to understand the process at a glance, which can be particularly useful in elicitation to gather feedback and make adjustments early in the planning stage.

This visual approach enhances comprehension and makes it easier to identify potential issues, sequences of actions, and dependencies within the process. By laying out steps visually, it engages team members and stakeholders, facilitating discussion and collaboration.

Other methodologies mentioned do not prioritize visual representation in the same way. For instance, SWOT analysis focuses on identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats and is more analytical than visual. Benchmarking compares processes or performance metrics to best practices, also lacking a visual step-by-step representation. The critical path method is used in project management to determine the longest sequence of activities and track project timelines, but it does not inherently focus on a visual representation of process steps. Thus, storyboarding stands out as the correct approach for visually representing process steps.