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Wardley Mapping Playbook
Guide Origin: Official | ArcKit Version: [VERSION]
/arckit:wardley creates strategic Wardley Maps for architecture decisions and build vs buy analysis.
Wardley Mapping Suite
ArcKit provides a full suite of Wardley Mapping commands that work together as a strategic analysis pipeline:
| Command | Purpose | Output |
|---|---|---|
/arckit:wardley.value-chain |
Decompose user needs into value chains | WVCH |
/arckit:wardley |
Create positioned Wardley Maps | WARD |
/arckit:wardley.doctrine |
Assess organizational doctrine maturity | WDOC |
/arckit:wardley.climate |
Assess 32 climatic patterns | WCLM |
/arckit:wardley.gameplay |
Analyze 60+ strategic gameplay patterns | WGAM |
Recommended workflow order:
- Value Chain -- Decompose domain into components (guide)
- Wardley Map -- Position components on evolution axis (this guide)
- Doctrine -- Assess organizational maturity (guide)
- Climate -- Understand external forces (guide)
- Gameplay -- Identify strategic plays (guide)
- Strategy / Roadmap -- Synthesise findings into actionable plans
Inputs
| Artefact | Purpose |
|---|---|
Requirements (ARC-<id>-REQ-v1.0.md) |
Capabilities needed |
| Stakeholder drivers | User needs and business context |
| Architecture diagrams | Current components and dependencies |
| Market research | Vendor landscape for build vs buy |
Command
/arckit:wardley Create Wardley Map for <initiative>
Output: projects/<id>/ARC-<id>-WARD-001-v1.0.md (uses multi-instance numbering)
Wardley Map Structure
| Section | Contents |
|---|---|
| User Needs | Anchor at top - what users need |
| Value Chain | Components required to meet needs |
| Evolution Assessment | Where each component sits on evolution axis |
| Movement Analysis | Where components are heading |
| Strategic Plays | Recommendations based on map |
| Build vs Buy | Sourcing recommendations per component |
Evolution Stages
| Stage | Characteristics | Sourcing |
|---|---|---|
| Genesis | Novel, uncertain, competitive advantage | Build/experiment |
| Custom | Emerging understanding, still differentiating | Build with care |
| Product | Well-understood, rental options exist | Buy/rent |
| Commodity | Standardized, utility, no differentiation | Utility/outsource |
Component Positioning
| Axis | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Y-Axis (Visibility) | How visible to user (top = user-facing) |
| X-Axis (Evolution) | Maturity from Genesis (left) to Commodity (right) |
Strategic Patterns
| Pattern | Description | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Commoditization | Component moving right | Switch to utility |
| Pioneer | Genesis component | Invest in experimentation |
| Settler | Custom to Product | Productize and scale |
| Town Planner | Product to Commodity | Industrialize |
| Inertia | Resistance to change | Manage organizational change |
Build vs Buy Decision
| Evolution Stage | Default Position | Exceptions |
|---|---|---|
| Genesis | Build | Rarely buy (doesn't exist) |
| Custom | Build | Buy if available and fits |
| Product | Buy | Build if core differentiator |
| Commodity | Buy/Utility | Never build |
One-Page Workflow
| Phase | Key Activities | ArcKit Commands |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery | Identify user needs and components | /arckit:requirements, /arckit:stakeholders |
| Mapping | Create Wardley Map | /arckit:wardley |
| Analysis | Identify strategic plays | Review workshop |
| Sourcing | Research market options | /arckit:research, /arckit:gcloud-search |
| Decision | Build vs buy recommendations | /arckit:sow, /arckit:evaluate |
Review Checklist
- User needs clearly anchored at top of map.
- All components identified in value chain.
- Dependencies shown between components.
- Evolution stage justified for each component.
- Movement (evolution direction) indicated.
- Strategic plays derived from map.
- Build vs buy recommendation for each component.
- Map shared and validated with stakeholders.
OnlineWardleyMaps Format
title Your Map Title
anchor User Need [0.95, 0.63]
component Component A [0.85, 0.45] label [-50, -10]
component Component B [0.70, 0.65]
component Component C [0.55, 0.78]
Component A->Component B
Component B->Component C
evolution Genesis->Custom->Product->Commodity
Visualize at: https://create.wardleymaps.ai
Viewing Your Map
OnlineWardleyMaps (primary): Copy the wardley code block and paste into https://create.wardleymaps.ai for an interactive editor with drag-and-drop repositioning.
Mermaid (secondary): Expand the <details> block in your generated artifact to see the Mermaid wardley-beta equivalent. This will render inline in GitHub, VS Code, and other Mermaid-enabled viewers once Mermaid ships wardley-beta in a stable release. The Mermaid version includes sourcing strategy markers (build/buy/outsource/inertia) as visual decorators on each component.
Key Principles
- Start with User Needs: Maps anchor on user needs, not technology.
- Everything Evolves: Components move from genesis to commodity.
- Position Over Labeling: Where something is matters more than what it's called.
- Context Specific: Maps are specific to your organization and time.
- Communication Tool: Maps facilitate strategic conversations.
Quick Questions? Use the Wardley Mapping Skill
For casual Wardley Mapping questions — evolution stage lookups, doctrine assessments, build vs. buy guidance, or interactive map creation — just ask naturally. The wardley-mapping skill activates automatically for conversational queries without generating formal documents.
Use /arckit:wardley when you need a formal architecture artifact with document control, project integration, and UK Government compliance.