Impact Mapping

Impact mapping is a technique that helps build shared understanding and alignment between leaders of organization strategy and product delivery teams. Gojko Adzic first documented the technique in his 2011 brochure,3 which provides an excellent guide for people who want to facilitate the workshop.

Adzic defines impact mapping as a lightweight, collaborative planning technique for teams that want to make a big impact with software products. It is based on user interaction design, outcome driven planning and mind mapping. Impact maps help delivery teams and stakeholders visualize roadmaps, explain how deliverables connect to user needs, and communicate how user outcomes relate to higher level organizational goals.

At the end of the impact mapping exercise, you should have:

• A shared understanding of the goal or problem statement.
• An inventory of human behavior changes in users and stakeholders that must occur (or not occur) in order for your...