The Story Mapping Game[Collaborate]

Victoria Schiffer (Agile Coach at SEEK) @ErdbeervogelIlya Paripsa (Lead Developer at REA Group) @iparips

What did you have for breakfast?

Flickr (KathrynW1) https://www.flickr.com/photos/kathryn-wright/14278562863

User Story

User Story - A Conversation

A user story is a promise to have a conversation

later.

User Story - Format

As a <user/role> I want to <action> so that <goal/benefit>.

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

Product Backlog

User Story Y

User Story L

User Story A

User Story M

User Story X

User Story S

...

Product Backlog1-Dimensional / Flat

Story Map2-Dimensional

Prioritised Stories

User Journey & Prioritised Stories

Story Map

Story MapPr

iorit

y

User Journey (Activities & Stories)

Jeff Patton and Gary Levitt (2008)

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

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 22nd Release

Marketable Feature SetCreated by

Baboon designsfrom Noun Project

VR 5 VD 23rd ReleaseCreated by Baboon designs

from Noun Project

EC ...EC ...nth Release VD ... AD ...VR ... VR ...Created by

Baboon designsfrom Noun Project

EC 2 VR 1 VD 1EC 1 AD 1VR 2WALKING SKELETON1st Basic ReleaseCreated by

Sebastian Langer from Noun Project

Created by Dinosoftlabs

from Noun Project

Source: Henrik Kniberg

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

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

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

1. Focus: Business Value

2. Task: a. Whole team goes through cardsb. Have a conversation: shared understandingc. Create minimal 1st slice: the Walking Skeleton

3. Goal:a. NOT a fully releasable feature setb. 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

Get Started

● Team: read & order stories● Facilitator: briefing

Created by corpus delicti from Noun Project

Exercise 1: Feedback 10 Mins

Exercise 2: More Slices

1. Task: a. Create more slices under the Walking Skeletonb. Write sticky note for each slice: the value it deliversc. 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

Exercise 2: Feedback 10 Mins

Benefits of Story Mapping

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)

Q & A

!?!

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

Thanks!Victoria Schiffer (Agile Coach at SEEK) @ErdbeervogelIlya Paripsa (Lead Developer at REA Group) @iparips