What is a story map? Definition, template, and examples

A story map, or user story map, is a visual representation of a user's journey through a product, illustrating each step they take and the associated user stories that need development. Coined by Jeff Patton, story mapping aims to facilitate detailed and efficient planning during product development by organizing user stories in chronological order and grouping them into epics or features. This method helps teams visualize dependencies and priorities, ensuring efficient development and alignment among team members, especially in remote settings. Story mapping is beneficial for promoting collaboration, maintaining focus on the big picture, optimizing the flow of development by identifying dependencies, and ensuring that development efforts are directed towards delivering high-value outcomes efficiently. Tools like Miro and Confluence support virtual story mapping with templates, enhancing the collaborative process.