While researching better ways to define and understand strategy both for our clients and ourselves, I read more detail about the great Wardley maps. Part of Simon Wardley’s explanation about why maps are so useful was very interesting. Wardley talks about the time prior to geographic maps where people would describe a route somewhere by telling a story. The story would describe the journey; turn left at the fig tree, past the pointed rock and continue etc… But once a geographic map was drawn, everyone could see a visual representation of the entire path which would provide an overview of the journey and possibly help define better routes.
This simple point makes it very clear that defining strategy is not simply about having a ‘vision’ for what to do next.
A good strategy comes from understanding where your business is; your products/services, how evolved they are (from early iteration through to highly automated), an understanding of the current competition, possible future competition and changes in technology that could impact your business in the future.
Only by clearly defining and visually mapping your business is it possible to define a strategy to move your business forward. Without a map, you are simply telling stories describing how to progress.
At Platform we use stories to help describe the future in a way that is understandable and engaging to help our clients sell their products and services more effectively. We use our Storyboard app to build interactive graphics lead presentations to map those stories, which provides meaning and clarity and enables our clients and their clients to understand the benefits of solutions now and how they will evolve in the future.
Creating more dynamic and effective ways to define and map strategy and process is a topic of conversation at Platform right now. Watch this space.