Cognitive Scaffold

Preparing your thinking workspace

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MENTAL MODEL · M2227

Wardley Maps

Wardley Maps
BusinessHigh supportStrategic Management
Included
account_tree

Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

A tool for visualizing the business environment. The horizontal axis represents the evolution stage (from genesis to commodity), and the vertical axis represents the visibility of the value chain (from user-visible to backend infrastructure). It clearly shows where the war is taking place on the map.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

- Battlefield situation: Most SWOT analyses are just word games. Wardley Maps force you to draw a 'terrain map', seeing where the undeveloped wilderness (blue ocean) is and where the heavily fortified positions (red ocean) are.

anchor

Anchor fast decisions

Place the value chain (user → components) on a map with the horizontal axis 'evolution stage (genesis → custom → product → commodity)' and the vertical axis 'value visibility (visible → invisible)'. As technology matures, components evolve toward the bottom-left (commoditization), and the hotspots of war shift accordingly.

MINIMUM ACTION

In progress 0/3

Practice this model in one real situation:

Check to track your progress (stored locally)
Learning progress0%
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Source support: Explicit

  • link
    en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wardley_mapZH · Explicit
    verified

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