# Wardley map

A Wardley map places user needs at the top, the components that serve them underneath, and positions each component by how evolved it is: genesis, custom-built, product, or commodity.

The purpose is strategic argument. Two people who disagree about a map are usually disagreeing about strategy, which is exactly what you want made visible.

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## When to reach for one

* Strategy conversations that keep going in circles.
* Build versus buy decisions, where evolution is the deciding factor.
* Explaining why the same component should be treated differently over time.

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## How to draw it in Capable

| **Route**  | **Use when**                                                |
| ---------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- |
| draw.io    | Precise positioning on both axes, which is the whole point. |
| Excalidraw | Workshop mapping where components move during the session.  |

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## The evolution axis

| **Stage**    | **What it looks like**            | **How to treat it**          |
| ------------ | --------------------------------- | ---------------------------- |
| Genesis      | Novel, uncertain, changing weekly | Experiment; expect waste     |
| Custom-built | Built for you, still bespoke      | Iterate; measure             |
| Product      | Several vendors, differentiated   | Buy; configure               |
| Commodity    | Utility, priced by usage          | Rent; stop thinking about it |

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## A few things that catch people out

* Anchor at the user need. A map that starts from your components maps your org chart, not your strategy.
* Position is an argument. Record who placed each component and why.
* Movement matters more than position. Draw where you expect a component to be in two years.

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## Related

[SWOT analysisFour quadrants that stay editable.](https://help.gocapable.com/diagrams/swot-analysis.html)

[Business model canvasNine blocks, on one editable canvas.](https://help.gocapable.com/diagrams/business-model-canvas.html)

[ExamplesWorking diagrams you can copy.](https://help.gocapable.com/diagrams/examples.html)

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_Editable during the meeting beats pretty afterwards._