The user story format is well known and used in many companies applying agile principles. However, teams often don’t know how a user story relates to other user stories and how they all fit into the bigger picture. Chipping away at seemingly random user stories that only define a specific feature can be the result. In an ideal world, you’d like teams to own and deliver on the shared vision and to keep the user’s journey and interest at heart. Creating and collaborating on user story maps as a team can make all the difference and lead to better products. Come along to playfully learn how to create a story map in collaboration with your (workshop) team. It’s a fun way to come up with your team’s big picture story map, reflecting the user’s journey. This story map will inform your future delivery cycles and releases. Having experienced the technique in a game setting will make it easier to remember, so that you can apply it in your own work places thereafter.

1. The Story Mapping Game
[Collaborate]
Victoria Schiffer (Agile Coach at SEEK) @Erdbeervogel
Ilya Paripsa (Lead Developer at REA Group) @iparips

2. What did you have for breakfast?
Flickr (KathrynW1) https://www.flickr.com/photos/kathryn-wright/14278562863

3. User Story

4. User Story - A Conversation
A user story is a promise
to have a conversation
later.

5. User Story - Format
As a <user/role>
I want to <action>
so that <goal/benefit>.

6. User Story - Restaurant Finder
As a <restaurant guest>
I want to <call a restaurant>
so that <I can make a reservation>.
Created by
corpus delicti
from Noun Project

7. Product Backlog

8. User Story Y
User Story L
User Story A
User Story M
User Story X
User Story S
...
Product Backlog
1-Dimensional / Flat
Story Map
2-Dimensional
Prioritised
Stories
User Journey
& Prioritised Stories

10. Story Map

11. Story Map
Priority
User Journey
(Activities &
Stories)
Jeff Patton and Gary Levitt (2008)

12. Goal - Product Vision
Backbone - User Journey (Steps)
‘Walking Skeleton’ - Smallest end-2-end functionality
Feature Releases - ‘Flesh out’ whole user journey bit by bit
Story Map
Created by
Sebastian Langer
from Noun Project
Created by
Dinosoftlabs
from Noun Project
Created by
Delwar Hossain
from Noun Project
Created by
Baboon designs
from Noun Project

13. View
Results
View
Details
Enter
Criteria
Arrange
Dinner
BACKBONE
User Journey
Story Map - Restaurant Finder Created by
corpus delicti
from Noun Project
Created by
Delwar Hossain
from Noun Project
VR 3 VR 4EC 3 AD 2
2nd
Release
Marketable Feature Set
Created by
Baboon designs
from Noun Project
VR 5 VD 23rd
ReleaseCreated by
Baboon designs
from Noun Project
EC ...EC ...nth
Release VD ... AD ...VR ... VR ...
Created by
Baboon designs
from Noun Project
EC 2 VR 1 VD 1EC 1 AD 1VR 2
WALKING SKELETON
1st
Basic ReleaseCreated by
Sebastian Langer
from Noun Project
Created by
Dinosoftlabs
from Noun Project

14. Source: Henrik Kniberg

15. Let the fun begin! Let’s play the Game :o)

16. Context - Restaurant Finder
● You are a Product Team
● Developing & Marketing a Mobile Restaurant Finder
● 3 months for initial release (~ 6 iterations/sprints)
○ Decide on feature set
○ Target Group: restaurant guests
○ Basic flow (Backbone) as per below
Created by
corpus delicti
from Noun Project
View Results
(list of
restaurants)
View
(restaurant)
Details
Enter (search)
Criteria
Arrange Dinner
Created by
Delwar Hossain
from Noun Project

17. Set Up
● Form Groups (~ 5-6 people)
● Each group gets
○ a deck of cards
○ sticky notes & sharpies
● Roles
○ 1 facilitator per group
○ (1 observer if group has more than 5 people)
Created by
corpus delicti
from Noun Project

18. 1. Focus: Business Value
2. Task:
a. Whole team goes through cards
b. Have a conversation: shared understanding
c. Create minimal 1st
slice: the Walking Skeleton
3. Goal:
a. NOT a fully releasable feature set
b. BUT a feature set that works and can be tested for early feedback
4. Attention:
a. A story map isn’t a matrix! Zero stories or multiple stories under an activity header are ok.
Exercise 1: Walking Skeleton
Created by
Sebastian Langer
from Noun Project
25 Mins

19. Get Started
● Team: read & order stories
● Facilitator: briefing
Created by
corpus delicti
from Noun Project

20. Exercise 1: Feedback 10 Mins

21. Exercise 2: More Slices
1. Task:
a. Create more slices under the Walking Skeleton
b. Write sticky note for each slice: the value it delivers
c. Write sticky notes for the why of the slices & ordering.
(Assumptions & Business Strategies)
2. Goal:
a. Flesh out the user journey, bit by bit → more functionality & early feedback.
3. Attention:
a. There is no right or wrong way of clustering & ordering! Make sure you can explain.
Created by
Baboon designs
from Noun Project
15 Mins

22. Exercise 2: Feedback 10 Mins

23. Benefits of Story Mapping

24. Benefits
● Shared Understanding (Communicate & Collaborate)
● Business Value Focus (Customer/User)
● Big Picture (Purpose & Context)
● Release Planning (Priorities & Adaptability)
● Transparency (Team, Stakeholders, Management)
● Information Radiator (past & future)
● Low Risk (early feedback)
● Continuous Discussion (collaboration)

25. Q & A
!?!

26. Further Reading & Acknowledgements
Further Reading
● “The New User Story Backlog is a Map”, Jeff Patton http://jpattonassociates.com/the-new-backlog/
● “Story Mapping in a Nutshell”, Arlen Bankston https://www.slideshare.net/VersionOne/story-mapping-in-a-nutshell
● “Story Mapping in Depth”, Arlen Bankston https://www.slideshare.net/lithespeed/story-mapping-in-a-nutshell-52106729
● “Story Mapping - Discover the whole Story”, Jeff Patton
https://www.slideshare.net/jeffpatton/user-story-mapping-discovery-the-whole-story
● “User Story Mapping - Discover the Whole Story, Build the Right Product”, Jeff Patton
Thanks!
● Xebia for providing us with their Story Mapping Games - https://xebia.com
● Sander Huijsen for introducing us to Xebia’s Story Mapping Game - @ahuijsen

27. Thanks!
Victoria Schiffer (Agile Coach at SEEK) @Erdbeervogel
Ilya Paripsa (Lead Developer at REA Group) @iparips