Serverless Craic Ep57 The Value Flywheel Effect Chapter 2 Wardley Mapping

Dave, Michael, and Mark discussed the application of Wardley Mapping in understanding movement and making strategic decisions. They share their experiences with the method, emphasising its ability to visualise and track changes in tech stacks and capabilities. 
They also discussed the importance of context, user needs, and facilitating meaningful conversations through mapping. 
Additionally, they highlighted the benefits of mapping for challenging each other's thinking and fostering creative dialogue. 
Later, they discussed the importance of understanding user needs during agile transformations, including the value of having a shared representation of collective experiences and strategies for removing barriers to change in an organization.

Outline
Using Wardley mapping to improve understanding of complex systems and software development.
Dave Anderson and Mark McCann discuss the history of Wardley mapping, including when they first learned about it and how it has evolved over time.
The hosts emphasise the importance of mapping movement and tracking progress in the context of technology and capability, citing examples from their own experiences.
Mark McCann: Focusing on user needs in Agile transformations helped teams understand why they were delivering code.
Michael O'Reilly: Participating in mapping sessions helped him understand technical nuances and communicate with non-technical stakeholders.
Mark McCann: Identified value chain visibility as key to success 
Dave Anderson: Custom skill sets and implementations were hindering progress 

Challenging inertia points in team decision-making.
Dave Anderson and Mark McCann discussed the importance of mapping out problems and inviting team members to contribute their perspectives.
The team used a structured approach to thinking deeply about problems and coming up with solutions, which helped to challenge assumptions and identify areas for improvement.
Identifying and addressing inertia points is crucial for strategic maneuvering.

Leadership principles, including courage, collaboration, empathy, and narrative.
Dave Anderson and Michael O'Reilly discussed the importance of courage and collaboration in tackling complex problems.
They emphasised the need for shared understanding and mapping with other teams to make better decisions.
The importance of context in mapping: Understanding the user's needs and perspective is crucial for effective mapping.
Empathy and narrative: Mapping can facilitate empathy and storytelling, but it's important to show the map to the right audience.

Principles of Wardley mapping for strategic planning.
Michael O'Reilly and Mark McCann discuss the importance of simplifying complex systems through Wardley mapping, focusing on the principles of abstraction and dialogue.
Dave Anderson emphasises the importance of not overcomplicating the model, and using it as a facilitation for meaningful conversations.
Dave Anderson and Michael O'Reilly discuss the importance of mapping in facilitating creative conversations.
They outline the eight principles of Wardley mapping and its benefits in understanding a company's value chain.

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