Impact Mapping: Description, Examples, Templates, and Process to Create
What is Impact mapping? Well, this strategic plan is perfect if your main goal is to increase customer retention and engagement in business. If that is the goal, conducting an impact mapping strategy is the best solution. If you are eager to learn more about Impact mapping, reading the article is the best choice. You will discover its complete definition to make it more understandable. Also, you will see different examples and templates that can be your guide to impact mapping. So, without anything else, get all the knowledge about Impact mapping.
- Part 1. What is Impact Mapping
- Part 2. Uses of Impact Mapping
- Part 3. Impact Mapping Examples and Templates
- Part 4. How to Do Impact Mapping
- Part 5. FAQs about What is Impact Mapping
Part 1. What is Impact Mapping
Impact Mapping is a strategy planning method. It is helpful to decide which features to make into a product. As it starts with the goal and extends out from there. All the identified features have an impact on obtaining that goal and clear rationale. Impact Mapping was developed by Gojko Adzic in 2012 in his book. With the same fundamental principles and origins as mind mapping and story mapping, impact mapping is a visual procedure for feature identification. It can instantly visualize the path from the main goal to a specific feature by determining the relevant actors. It also includes how it can help obtain the primary goal and what is required to perform desirable actions. There are also the following questions you must answer while doing an impact mapping called SMART. These are Smart, Measurable, Action-oriented, Realistic, and Timely. Impact mapping incorporates numerous viewpoints, opinions, and experiences. When conducting numerous impact mapping with different groups, something can happen. You can lessen where there are divergences of impact deliverables based on the biases of various cohorts. With Impact mapping, you can provide an understandable relationship between the attainment of set goals and investment in product development.
Part 2. Uses of Impact Mapping
Impact mapping is a useful tool that assists the team in aligning their work with their goals and customer needs. It can offer a visual representation of how the team’s performance will make an impact on users and business. Impact mapping is useful for various purposes. To know all of them, see some details below.
1. Defining Product Features
One of the uses of Impact mapping is to prioritize and define product features. The team can enhance features that have a significant impact. It is by determining user actions that may lead to wanted outcomes.
2. Enhancing Decision-making
For enhancing or improving decision-making, you can use an impact mapping strategy. It can offer a framework for assessing various options. By thinking deeper about the impact of each option on users and business, the team can make a better decision. Aside from that, it will help the team to collaborate more, which is more advantageous for the organization or business.
3. Measuring Progress
Another use of impact mapping is it can measure progress. It can track the team’s progress toward the desired outcomes. It can guide the team to be on track and motivated. Plus, with the help of impact mapping, you can determine some areas that need improvement. It can be about the team or the plan itself.
4. Aligning Product Strategy
The best part of impact mapping is it can help the organization to make sure that the product strategy is well-aligned with the overall goal of the business. By visualizing the user outcome and how they contribute to the objective of the business, the team can ensure that they are making the right product for the users.
5. Prioritizing Work
Impact mapping is also a useful strategy for prioritizing work. You can determine that task that will have an impact on the business. Also, the mapping can guide the team to focus their primary resources on the most essential work.
6. Creating Product Plan
If you want to create a plan regarding the product, it is perfect to use an impact mapping strategy. This can help you explain and visualize the team’s vision of the product. Also, you can see the potential achievements when meeting the business goals. Thus, when creating a plan, always use the impact mapping strategy.
As our bottom line, Impact mapping is the best tool for product teams. It can assist the team in achieving their goals and making products that are impactful and successful.
Part 3. Impact Mapping Examples and Templates
Impact Mapping Example
In this example, it shows the process of how to achieve a specific goal. The map’s main goal is to grow mobile advertising. Here, you can see the Goal, Actor, Impact, and Deliverable. You can also use this example if you want to conduct your Impact map.
Click this to see the impact mapping example.
Impact Map Template
The template below is helpful if you want to conduct numerous Impact maps. You can just attach the content and get your final map. So, if you want to create an impact map easily and instantly, you can try using the templates below.
Part 4. How to Do Impact Mapping
If you want to do Impact Mapping, we recommend you use MidnOnMap. This Impact mapping software is helpful for users since it can give every function you need during the mapping process. You can use different shapes, lines, arrows, colors, and more. Also, it lets you use all of its features easily. This is because MindOnMap contains an intuitive interface, making it ideal for non-professional users. Plus, the tool has a Theme feature you can enjoy. With this feature, you can make your map colorful and unique. Additionally, the tool is workable on various platforms. Whether you prefer an online or offline platform, you can access MindOnMap. You can create your map on computers and directly on browsers. To do impact mapping, use the steps below using this Impact mapping tool.
On your browser, visit the MidnOnMap website. Then, choose if you want to use the map maker online or offline.
Secure Download
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After the loading process, choose the New section and click the Flowchart function. Then, you will be in the function’s main interface.
To start the mapping process, choose your preferred shapes from the General section. Then, add the text inside by clicking the shape twice. Also, you can use the Fill Color function to add color to the shapes. The function is on the top part of the interface.
From the top interface, click the Save button to save your Impact map. Also, you can download it on your device by clicking the Export button.
Further Reading
Part 5. FAQs about What is Impact Mapping
How do you use impact mapping?
There are general steps you must know for using Impact mapping. These are defining the goal, identifying personas, adding impact, defining deliverables, breaking deliverables, and validating the impact map. With this, you can ensure to have an effective Impact map.
What are the benefits of impact mapping?
It can visualize product plans, enhance decision-making, prioritize work, monitor progress, and more. These are the benefits you can get when doing impact mapping.
Who leads impact mapping?
Various people can lead Impact mapping. It can be product managers, agile coaches, UX designers, and business analysts. They can use the impact map to align the work with the business goals.
When to do impact mapping?
There are three guides to know when you need to do Impact mapping. First, you can do impact mapping at the start of a new product or feature. Second, when you need to clarify a product's goals. Lastly, when you need to submit a product vision to the stakeholders.
Impact mapping vs story mapping, what is the difference?
Impact mapping is a technique that guides teams in aligning with the business goals. On the other hand, Story mapping is a strategy that helps teams to prioritize and plan their work.
Conclusion
Impact mapping is a technique to use for aligning your business goal with the work. It helps you clarify everything during the process. So, to learn more about Impact mapping, you can go back to his articles anytime. Also, when conducting or doing an impact mapping, we suggest using MidnOnMap. This map maker can guide you to create your Impact map using various functions and features.
