User-Story-Mapping
User Story Mapping is an agile exercise that organises user stories into a manageable and visually intuitive structure, representing the user's journey through the product. It helps teams understand the functionality of the system from the user's perspective, identifying gaps, overlaps, and priorities.
Goal
The goal of User Story Mapping is to create a shared understanding among the development team, stakeholders, and any other participants about how the team will iteratively develop a validated solution.
Context
It can be hard to break down a feature into smaller parts because we tend to believe that the feature will have no value until it has full value. "Half an eye is useless" is a common phrase. However, there is always a way to create simplified versions that will enable us to validate that customers really want the feature.
Format
| Element | Description | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| User Journey | The top-level steps that a customer performs to complete a job. It outlines the major phases or activities in the user's interaction with the product to achieve their goal. | Provides the framework for the map, ensuring that all features and tasks are aligned with the user's overall objectives and experiences. |
| Feature Tasks | The specific actions that a customer takes to complete the task associated with the new feature. These are the individual steps required to accomplish a user journey's phase or activity. | Enables detailed understanding of what needs to be developed to support the user in completing their journey, ensuring that the development team focuses on user-driven tasks. |
| Swimlanes | horizontal divisions in the map that separate tasks into releases. | Communicates the iterative way that the full feature will be developed, ensuring that the team can focus on the most important tasks first. |
Inputs
| Artifact | Description |
|---|---|
| Validated Solution | A solution that has been tested and validated with users through Continuous Design, ensuring that it meets their needs and expectations. |
Outputs
| Artifact | Description | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| User Story Map | A visual representation of the user's journey through the product, organised by user stories. | Enhances understanding of user needs, improves prioritisation, and facilitates communication. |
| User Stories | Detailed descriptions of the functionality, performance criteria, and interfaces needed for each component. | Provides a clear understanding of the tasks that need to be completed to support the user's journey. |
Anti-patterns
- Over-complication: Making the map too detailed or complex, which can overwhelm the team and obscure priorities.
- Siloed Creation: The map is created by a limited subset of the team, leading to gaps in understanding and alignment.