Beyond Storytelling: A Deep Dive into Wardley Mapping • Simon Wardley & Charles Humble • GOTO 2025

This interview was recorded for GOTO Unscripted. #GOTOcon #GOTOunscripted https://gotopia.tech Read the full transcription of this interview here: https://gotopia.tech/articles/357 Simon Wardley - Thought Lord, Mapper, Mostly Good @simonwardley Charles Humble - Freelance Techie, Podcaster, Editor, Author & Consultant RESOURCES Simon https://bsky.app/profile/swardley.bsky.social https://me.dm/@swardley https://twitter.com/swardley https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonwardley https://swardley.medium.com Charles https://bsky.app/profile/charleshumble.bsky.social https://linkedin.com/in/charleshumble https://mastodon.social/@charleshumble https://conissaunce.com Links https://www.wardleymaps.com https://mapkeep.com https://miro.com https://youtu.be/WVAUHT-Jy-U https://youtu.be/FPfjHon2tFY https://youtu.be/ShAzlhS_TCg https://youtu.be/DnSogTnJlqk https://youtu.be/9w6YeNNJLkg https://youtu.be/LTFe7Zj-hzQ https://youtu.be/IlDIV5gaTP0 https://youtu.be/2IW9L1uNMCs https://youtu.be/b7Nc_FJiosk https://youtu.be/LLZmTuTSEB8 https://youtu.be/-z3ZB1ck_nk https://youtu.be/Gs1zUKrFCoY https://youtu.be/mUTx61t443A https://youtu.be/K2mx9ZaNDyE DESCRIPTION Simon Wardley and Charles Humble discuss the development of Wardley Mapping, a visual framework that helps organizations understand and navigate technological evolution. Moving beyond traditional business storytelling, the interview explores how mapping enables better strategic decision-making through understanding component evolution, inertia, and gameplay, while also addressing current technological shifts in AI and cyber-physical systems. TIMECODES 00:00 Intro 02:02 Storytelling vs mapping 04:20 Understanding Wardley Maps 19:38 Evolution & movement in technology 26:31 Centralization vs decentralization 31:05 Understanding inertia 34:21 Strategic gameplay 41:58 AI & the future of technology 48:16 Outro RECOMMENDED BOOKS Simon Wardley • Wardley Maps • https://amzn.to/45U8Upr Simon Wardley • Wardley Mapping, The Knowledge • https://amzn.to/3XQEeDu Sun Tzu • The Art of War • https://amzn.to/2BqDeha Jonathan Allen & Thomas Blood • Reaching Cloud Velocity • https://amzn.to/3D20KkC Mark Craddock • Wardley Mapping Doctrine • https://amzn.to/4b3jRYb Susanne Kaiser • Adaptive Systems With Domain-Driven Design, Wardley Mapping & Team Topologies • https://amzn.to/3XTmNCc David Anderson, Marck McCann & Michael O'Reilly • The Value Flywheel Effect • https://amzn.to/3VcHxC7 Erik Schön • The Art Of Strategy • https://amzn.to/2UPzXPa https://bsky.app/profile/gotocon.com https://twitter.com/GOTOcon https://www.linkedin.com/company/goto- https://www.instagram.com/goto_con https://www.facebook.com/GOTOConferences #WardleyMaps #WardleyMapping #Strategy #ArtOfStrategy #ArtOfWar #SunTzu #Inertia #Storytelling #WardleyMappingDoctrine #Patterns #Change #SimonWardley #CharlesHumble CHANNEL MEMBERSHIP BONUS Join this channel to get early access to videos & other perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs_tLP3AiwYKwdUHpltJPuA/join Looking for a unique learning experience? Attend the next GOTO conference near you! Get your ticket at https://gotopia.tech Sign up for updates and specials at https://gotopia.tech/newsletter SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHANNEL - new videos posted almost daily. https://www.youtube.com/user/GotoConferences/?sub_confirmation=1