# How the Oscars are decided

> A process map exported from forks.world (https://forks.world). Author: Brian. Source: https://forks.world/p/cmv0kphdp001bjn06ekxw1lsh
> It describes who does what, in what order, and with which technology. Read the plain-language sections first; the JSON at the end is the exact, complete data.

## Summary

- 19 steps across 2 layers
- Persona: Academy members, The branches (actors, directors, editors...), The accountants, The ceremony

## How to read this file

- A process is made of **layers**. The main layer is the top level; any step of kind `subprocess` opens a detail layer with its own lanes and steps.
- **Lanes** are either persona (people/roles) or technology (systems). Each step belongs to one lane; `using` lists tools a person uses for that step.
- Step kinds: `start`, `task`, `decision` (its arrows carry the answer as a label), `subprocess`, `end`.

## How the Oscars are decided

Lanes:
- Academy members: person / role (id `members`)
- The branches (actors, directors, editors...): person / role (id `branches`)
- The accountants: person / role (id `acct`)
- The ceremony: person / role (id `show`)

Steps, in the order they run:

1. **Films qualify for the year** [start; Academy members; id `o1`]
   - then Each branch nominates in its own categories
2. **Each branch nominates in its own categories** [task; The branches (actors, directors, editors...); id `o2`]
   - then Everyone nominates for Best Picture
3. **Everyone nominates for Best Picture** [task; Academy members; id `o3`]
   - then Count the nominations
4. **Count the nominations** [task; The accountants; id `o4`]
   - then Nominees are announced
5. **Nominees are announced** [task; The ceremony; id `o5`]
   - then Campaigning: screeners, events and ads
6. **Campaigning: screeners, events and ads** [task; Academy members; id `o6`]
   - then Final voting opens to all members
7. **Final voting opens to all members** [task; Academy members; id `o7`]
   - then Best Picture uses a ranked ballot
8. **Best Picture uses a ranked ballot** [subprocess; The accountants; id `o8`], opens the detail layer "The ranked ballot"
   - then Other categories: the most votes wins
9. **Other categories: the most votes wins** [task; The accountants; id `o9`]
   - then Results are sealed in envelopes
10. **Results are sealed in envelopes** [task; The accountants; id `o10`]
   - then The winners are read live
11. **The winners are read live** [task; The ceremony; id `o11`]
   - then Was the wrong envelope opened?
12. **Was the wrong envelope opened?** [decision; The ceremony; id `o12`]
   - if "Yes — it has happened" go to Correct it on stage in front of millions; if "No" go to Speeches, afterparties and the debate begins
13. **Correct it on stage in front of millions** [task; The ceremony; id `o13`]
   - then Speeches, afterparties and the debate begins
14. **Speeches, afterparties and the debate begins** [end; The ceremony; id `o14`]

```mermaid
flowchart LR
  subgraph l_members["Academy members"]
    n_o1(["Films qualify for the year"])
    n_o3["Everyone nominates for Best Picture"]
    n_o6["Campaigning: screeners, events and ads"]
    n_o7["Final voting opens to all members"]
  end
  subgraph l_branches["The branches (actors, directors, editors...)"]
    n_o2["Each branch nominates in its own categories"]
  end
  subgraph l_acct["The accountants"]
    n_o4["Count the nominations"]
    n_o8[["Best Picture uses a ranked ballot"]]
    n_o9["Other categories: the most votes wins"]
    n_o10["Results are sealed in envelopes"]
  end
  subgraph l_show["The ceremony"]
    n_o5["Nominees are announced"]
    n_o11["The winners are read live"]
    n_o12{"Was the wrong envelope opened?"}
    n_o13["Correct it on stage in front of millions"]
    n_o14(["Speeches, afterparties and the debate begins"])
  end
  n_o1 --> n_o2
  n_o2 --> n_o3
  n_o3 --> n_o4
  n_o4 --> n_o5
  n_o5 --> n_o6
  n_o6 --> n_o7
  n_o7 --> n_o8
  n_o8 --> n_o9
  n_o9 --> n_o10
  n_o10 --> n_o11
  n_o11 --> n_o12
  n_o12 -->|"Yes — it has happened"| n_o13
  n_o12 -->|"No"| n_o14
  n_o13 --> n_o14
```

### The ranked ballot (detail of step "Best Picture uses a ranked ballot")

Lanes:
- The accountants: person / role (id `acct`)

Steps, in the order they run:

1. **Voters rank the nominees** [start; The accountants; id `r1`]
   - then Does one film have over half of first choices?
2. **Does one film have over half of first choices?** [decision; The accountants; id `r2`]
   - if "Yes" go to That film wins Best Picture; if "No" go to Drop the film with the fewest first choices
3. **That film wins Best Picture** [end; The accountants; id `r3`]
4. **Drop the film with the fewest first choices** [task; The accountants; id `r4`]
   - then Move those votes to each voter's next choice
5. **Move those votes to each voter's next choice** [task; The accountants; id `r5`]
   - then Does one film have over half of first choices?

```mermaid
flowchart LR
  subgraph l_acct["The accountants"]
    n_r1(["Voters rank the nominees"])
    n_r2{"Does one film have over half of first choices?"}
    n_r4["Drop the film with the fewest first choices"]
    n_r5["Move those votes to each voter's next choice"]
    n_r3(["That film wins Best Picture"])
  end
  n_r1 --> n_r2
  n_r2 -->|"Yes"| n_r3
  n_r2 -->|"No"| n_r4
  n_r4 --> n_r5
  n_r5 --> n_r2
```

## Full data (JSON)

```json
{
  "title": "How the Oscars are decided",
  "maps": {
    "m_rank": {
      "id": "m_rank",
      "lanes": [
        {
          "id": "acct",
          "name": "The accountants",
          "type": "person"
        }
      ],
      "steps": [
        {
          "id": "r1",
          "kind": "start",
          "lane": "acct",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "r2"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Voters rank the nominees"
        },
        {
          "id": "r2",
          "kind": "decision",
          "lane": "acct",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "r3",
              "label": "Yes"
            },
            {
              "to": "r4",
              "label": "No"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Does one film have over half of first choices?"
        },
        {
          "id": "r4",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "acct",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "r5"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Drop the film with the fewest first choices"
        },
        {
          "id": "r5",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "acct",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "r2"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Move those votes to each voter's next choice"
        },
        {
          "id": "r3",
          "kind": "end",
          "lane": "acct",
          "next": [],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "That film wins Best Picture"
        }
      ],
      "title": "The ranked ballot",
      "parent": {
        "map": "m_root",
        "step": "o8"
      }
    },
    "m_root": {
      "id": "m_root",
      "lanes": [
        {
          "id": "members",
          "name": "Academy members",
          "type": "person"
        },
        {
          "id": "branches",
          "name": "The branches (actors, directors, editors...)",
          "type": "person"
        },
        {
          "id": "acct",
          "name": "The accountants",
          "type": "person"
        },
        {
          "id": "show",
          "name": "The ceremony",
          "type": "person"
        }
      ],
      "steps": [
        {
          "id": "o1",
          "kind": "start",
          "lane": "members",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "o2"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Films qualify for the year"
        },
        {
          "id": "o2",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "branches",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "o3"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Each branch nominates in its own categories"
        },
        {
          "id": "o3",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "members",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "o4"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Everyone nominates for Best Picture"
        },
        {
          "id": "o4",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "acct",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "o5"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Count the nominations"
        },
        {
          "id": "o5",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "show",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "o6"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Nominees are announced"
        },
        {
          "id": "o6",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "members",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "o7"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Campaigning: screeners, events and ads"
        },
        {
          "id": "o7",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "members",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "o8"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Final voting opens to all members"
        },
        {
          "id": "o8",
          "kind": "subprocess",
          "lane": "acct",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "o9"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "child": "m_rank",
          "label": "Best Picture uses a ranked ballot"
        },
        {
          "id": "o9",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "acct",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "o10"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Other categories: the most votes wins"
        },
        {
          "id": "o10",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "acct",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "o11"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Results are sealed in envelopes"
        },
        {
          "id": "o11",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "show",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "o12"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "The winners are read live"
        },
        {
          "id": "o12",
          "kind": "decision",
          "lane": "show",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "o13",
              "label": "Yes — it has happened"
            },
            {
              "to": "o14",
              "label": "No"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Was the wrong envelope opened?"
        },
        {
          "id": "o13",
          "kind": "task",
          "lane": "show",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "o14"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Correct it on stage in front of millions"
        },
        {
          "id": "o14",
          "kind": "end",
          "lane": "show",
          "next": [],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Speeches, afterparties and the debate begins"
        }
      ],
      "title": "How the Oscars are decided",
      "parent": null
    }
  }
}
```