2 Strategy Journey Mapping

Strategy Journey Mapping is a visual, icon-driven, flexible process that enables strategy facilitators and participants to identify, share and link the various components of strategy making. The process begins with a checklist of possibilities, sectioned into the overall components that are potentially possible as inputs to an advanced agency or departmental strategy.

Before you read the next section, here are some examples for you to explore. We will share some insights when we meet.

Journey Mapping

An example of a strategy journey map based on a matrix structure. 

This example has a specific structure that shows the significant elements of the strategy journey in blue Post-its, and options and possibilities in yellow Post-its. This is based on a matrix model, and you can see that the blue Post-its show the overall category or purpose of the step in the journey, and the yellow Post-its show the options or sequences within each step. In this example, there are also links between specific tools or processes, and other tools. This strategist has also ‘parked’ options to the right-hand side of the map, as a ‘just in case’ category.

This example shows in detail some of the tools and processes and allows the viewer to get more of an idea of the focus on the project.

A comparison of styles

Here you can see a different style to previous versions. This is a model of a complex situation where the project lead wanted flexibility and also wanted to show the interactions, the moving parts and the importance of people in the frame.

Here is a version based on the Boyatzis Intentional Change Theory (ITC). You will notice that in each of the stages of the ITC, the project owner explored and applied a series of tools and processes to inform and provide insights to the workplace project approach.

Here is a short overview of the use of the strategy journey map in a public sector context.

https://blogs.qut

.edu.au/qutex/2020/02/25/strategy-journey-mapping-pathways-to-success/

Senior leaders, department heads, ministers, and boards as well, set the overall vision, objectives and ensure that the strategy aligns with the entity’s values and overall purpose. The Strategy Team sets the visual framing for the Strategy Journey Map. For some organisations, the framing might be a checker-board approach. For others, it might be a pyramid, or a mind map.

Regardless, the framing is itself a representation of the entity. Be sure to check what story it is telling! Too constricted and inflexible, and we might be limiting possibilities!

Overall the Strategy Journey Map Frame should be easy to share, it should enable icons within it to move and change, there should be a visual way to link icons, and they should be easy to move and link.

A crucial element of a strategy journey is an understanding of the knowledge, skills and capabilities of the process. One way to achieve this is as a team, to share in a visual format, the many and varied elements of these within the team.