name: wardley description: Wardley Mapping strategic analysis—map value chains against evolution to reveal build vs buy decisions and competitive dynamics. Use for technology strategy or investment decisions. user-invocable: true

Wardley Map

Create a strategic map showing components positioned by their evolution stage and visibility in the value chain.

Instructions

Identify the user need, map the value chain of components required to meet it, and position each component on the evolution axis.

Output Format

Context: [What situation we're mapping] User: [Who the user is] User Need: [What they're trying to accomplish]

Value Chain Identification

Working backward from user need:

Evolution Assessment

Evolution Indicators:

• Genesis: Novel, poorly understood, no standard, high uncertainty
• Custom: Emerging practices, divergent approaches, experimentation
• Product: Feature differentiation, rental/purchase models, scalable
• Commodity: Standardized, utility pricing, essential but undifferentiated

The Map

VISIBLE │
   TO   │  [User Need]
  USER  │       │
        │       ▼
        │  [Component A]
        │       │
        │       ▼
INVISIBLE│  [Component B]
        │
        └──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┬──────►
            GENESIS  CUSTOM PRODUCT COMMODITY
              I        II     III      IV

Movement Analysis

What's evolving rightward?

Inertia Points

• [Component with inertia] — [why we might resist]

Strategic Analysis

Build vs. Buy

Competitive Dynamics

Our differentiators (left side of map):

• [Component we do differently]

Commoditization threats:

• [Component becoming commodity]

Recommendations

Short-term actions:

1. [Action based on map insights]

What to stop doing:

• [Component to outsource/buy instead of build]

Key Insight:

Guidelines

• Always start with user need
• Everything evolves left to right (genesis → commodity)
• Build on the left (differentiation), buy on the right (commodity)
• Watch for inertia—past success creates resistance to change

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