User Story Mapping Template

What is the User Story Mapping template?

In 2005, Jeff Patton introduced the first Story Maps. The main idea behind them was to manage and prioritize work that needed to be done in an organized and efficient way. For that, a richer structure was necessary and single-list product backlogs turned out to be an outdated technique. A user story map is a robust tool that allows an agile team to groom their product backlog and plan the product releases more effectively.

A user story map captures the customer’s journey with the product, including their activities and tasks with the system. Creating a story map collaboratively with the entire team ensures that all team members are on the same page from the start of the project, through the deployment of new features, up to the ongoing development of new releases.

What are the benefits of the User Story Mapping template?

Thanks to the User Story Mapping template, you can:

• Brainstorm, discuss, and collaboratively prioritize user needs.
• Engage all team members in the process of user story map creation and collaborate with your entire team.
• Arrange and prioritize user activities and tasks and divide them into related epics or user stories.
• Manage backlog with an overview and leveled structure.
• Collaborate with your on-site or remote team, in real-time or asynchronously.

How to use the User Story Mapping template in a few steps?

1. Open the User Story Mapping template on a new board or add it to an already existing one.
2. Start writing down Activities your users perform when interacting with your products, solutions, or apps. Place them on sticky notes in the first swimlane.
3. Note down Epics on the available sticky notes in the following swimlane. Epics sit on top of your user story map hierarchy. Drag the sticky notes right or left to change the order and notice how all stickies below move automatically as well.
4. Create User Stories in the next swimlane by adding as many specific steps as needed. Put one action per sticky note. Add more sticky notes by clicking the plus icon and change their order by moving them up or down.
5. Continue adding sticky notes to the last swimlane dedicated to Release Slices. Identify small experiments or minimal viable product releases.
6. Add comments to any element on the board if you have any concerns, questions, or feedback. 
7. Convert ready-filled sticky notes into actionable Jira items with two clicks to start working on them right away.