The Office Observes Security Tray Choreography
The security line was moving freely. The person ahead has reached the tray table and discovered they have seven items to process and one tray.
There are two types of people at the airport security tray table.
The first type has done this before and has pre-sorted their belongings into a mental manifest during the queue. Their jacket is already off. Their liquids are in a bag in their front pocket. Their laptop was placed at the top of their bag the night before, specifically for this moment. They arrive at the table with a plan.
The second type has also done this before. They have been unable to translate the remembered experience into advance preparation. They arrive at the table with everything they brought to the airport.
The Discovery Phase
The second type discovers, at the table, the full scope of the requirement:
Shoes: require removal and separate placement. This requires sitting down or balancing.
Laptop: requires removal from bag and separate tray. The laptop is at the bottom of the bag.
Liquids bag: must be accessible. It is in the bag, which cannot be opened with the laptop still in it.
Belt: requires removal. The belt is currently holding trousers in position.
Phone: in pocket. Pocket is in the jacket. Jacket is still on.
The discovery happens in real time. Each item is addressed as it becomes apparent. The process is sequential rather than parallel.
The Performance Gap
The frequent flier processes in approximately forty seconds. The second type, processing the same items sequentially as discovered, takes approximately two to three minutes. The queue behind them is aware of both of these numbers.
The Learning
The experience is remembered. The next trip begins with genuine intention to prepare in the queue. The intention does not transfer into action during the queue. The table is the place where learning is applied, and the table is also the place where learning occurs.
Both types arrive at the scanner. The scanner is the same for both.