Wardley Maps
The linked article is the first chapter of Simon Wardley’s book, published as a series on Medium. It contains the table of contents for all chapters.
A Wardley Map is a strategic visualization framework created by Simon Wardley. It depicts a value chain, from users and their needs down to the capabilities required to meet those needs. Components are arranged by dependency and mapped against four stages of evolution: Genesis, Custom, Product, and Commodity. Inspired by military strategy principles from Sun Tzu’s Art of War, Wardley Mapping helps organizations understand who benefits from their work, what those benefits are, and the system of capabilities that deliver market success. This open-source methodology enables leaders at all levels to identify strategic opportunities, avoid costly mistakes, and make better decisions through visual clarity.
The primary philosophy behind Wardley Mapping is that decision-making improves when we have a clear understanding of:
- The beneficiaries of our work,
- The specific benefits they receive, and
- The system of capabilities that synergistically work to deliver these benefits in the market.