Mapping the Industry I: Affordable, reliable, low-carbon electricity
Wardley maps and analysis
Last time we closed by noting that “if some of the tensions in the system are rooted in models we cannot fully see, then opening parts of that modelling process may change the discussion itself. Not by removing risk, but by making it something that can be examined, challenged, and refined collectively.”
This applies to business models and strategy as much as it does to technical ‘models’ and software. The ‘technical openness’ we want to develop must fit into a wider map of opportunity and strategy that can be developed in conversation.
A method that is becoming more and more established for conversations of this kind is Wardley mapping (or Value Chain mapping as it was once called). I haven’t so far seen Wardley Maps for the German energy domain. Now’s a good time to get the ball rolling.
I first saw Simon Wardley speak at an O’Reilly conference in London in 2016. (Here’s a link to the video of that event.) I won’t repeat his ideas here, and would recommend you watch one of his videos instead and make up your own mind on whether or not you think his approach is useful. (I think it is, and I do hope I’ll never have to see another SWOT matrix.)
Our first map will be high-level and focus on what is probably the overall goal. The analysis should be seen as a starting point, an illustration of the idea to be developed further.
We start with the map itself and then work through a Wardley-style analysis. I expect many comments and disagreements. Get in touch here on Substack, LinkedIn or otherwise.
