Wardley Mapping
Strategy for the Self-Taught
Are you unclear about what to do and why?
Are your plans creating more confusion than clarity?
Do you end up second-guessing yourself as a result?
Show your work! Make a Wardley Map!
Competence, clarity, and alignment… one sketch at a time.
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How It Works
Wardley Mapping in 90 Seconds
What is a Wardley Map, anyway? Why is it useful, and how does it work?
How We Think Things Work
Sketch out a quick model. Who gets value, and how do our capabilities fit together to meet their needs (what depends on what else)?
What the Market Has to Say
Each capability evolves through competition, meaning rare and risky eventually becomes common and certain. Add this evolution to turn your model into a map.
Patterns and Principles
Not everything is random. Look for common market patterns in your map and start acting according to universally useful principles.
Making the Right Moves
Now, where to focus your time, attention, and effort? Use the map to decide where to intervene and which gameplays to use. Act, learn, and repeat!
Mapping costs you nothing but your own time & effort. It's all creative commons, share alike.
You can always read the book (I will get around to finishing at some point), but once you get the basics just try it and practice.
Simon Wardley, creator of Wardley Mapping
In the last year we now have 100+ founders who've done mapping & have had their minds blown. I don't know how to measure the revenue or growth impact of doing Wardley Maps & gaining more clarity, but we do see an improvement in conviction & speed of decision making.
One of the great lessons of Wardley Maps is the power of novel visualizations that work on multiple dimensions... Conversations can be so much richer and effective.
Wardley Mapping provides an opportunity for the dominant narrative to become conspicuous, space for nondominant narratives to be named and understood, and can illustrate the strategic value of nondominant narratives.
Start Today
Get the book
If you prefer to learn by reading, this free book details Simon Wardley’s journey into the world of strategy and the invention of Wardley Mapping.
The first five chapters share the problems Wardley Mapping solves and show you exactly how to get started. Available in digital, print, and audiobook formats.
Take the course
If you want to save time, build confidence, and get value out of Wardley Mapping right away, join our online course, Pragmatic Wardley Mapping.
We’ve boiled down the basics of Wardley Mapping into a shortest-path-to-value experience that has helped hundreds of leaders like you.
Make a Wardley Map
Grab a pen and paper
That's all you need to make your first map. We'll show you the rest!
Follow along with the video
Step through the process with Ben. Do what he does, and sketch out your first map!
Bring us questions
We're always happy to help. Say hello anytime.
Wardley Mapping is something you do when you're in a messy situation and must rise to the occasion. Thankfully, there's no magic to it. Just follow the process and stay curious.
And don't worry; if you get stuck, you can always reach out. We'll get you uncovering incredible opportunities in no time!
Ben Mosior, LWM Educator
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