The Project Adventure Map. Go Left At Scope Creep Mountain.
26. Jul, 2010 
7 Comments
So. We should have fun and creativity in projects.
So. The team should have a shared understanding of the goal and approach.
So. If people are involved you get acceptance and engagement, multiple point of views, and alignment. Co-creation is a powerful concept.
So. Metaphors and storytelling are useful techniques.
So. How do I get started?
Introducing… The Project Adventure Map!
Think about your project as a Big Adventure. You are trying to find a treasure. You are going to retrieve a stolen secret document. You are going to set the princess free. You have a goal.
Every project is a journey. It is never a straight line. You have to conquer obstacles, replan, regroup, rethink and change course.
Imagine your project as a map through unknown territory in search for The Goal.
The map reflects the storyline of the project. The episodes of the project life cycle. The glory days of starting the project. The period in which the project was under attack by vicious stakeholders.
Discuss the days from before the project. What happened to the hero of the Big Adventure? What was the kingdom like (you may also talk about “organization” or “company”) before the Big Adventure?
And when the Big Adventure started, how did the group emerge? Bob came down the mountains to create databases. Where did the rest came from? Why did they join The Big Adventure?
Yes, you are introducing the team. Yes, you are discussing the project goal and situation that has to be changed. Yes, you are aligning the shared view of the project history. Yes, you are creating a metaphor. Yes, you are appealing to the international language of storytelling. Yes, you might even crack a smile upon your face.
Yes. We’ll explore this technique more in detail.
Now go find your own story. Now go create your own Project Adventure Map.
Image by EdenPictures.
Hi Bas,
As always and interesting take on project management, first time I have heard it related to an adventure, and being told to go and develop my own Project Adventure Map!
It certainly feels like a map like this would help when liaising with some senior managers!
All the best,
Ed
Hi Bas,
In a comment I made last week, and I quote what I wrote, was:
I am thinking of the need to perform emotion scan, in emulation of environment scan, to see where on the emotion map people make decisions,
Mapping tools are indeed a great way to uncover junctions, change of directions and all the examples shown in your post.
How about combining journey maps with emotional scans? I smell a new idea coming up.
Hi Edward, thanks for the point of communicating with stakeholders. Yes, should be perfect for that too.
Hi Ali, great suggestion. You will love my post for today than, all about stakeholder mapping.
Hello Bas.
I really enjoyed reading this concept of the adventure – it works well in making project management more tangible for managers who are not necessarily project managers by trade to help them understand what can go well (and not so well
)
I am going to use it with a client tomorrow morning when describing a project we are about to embark on.
Thanks for sharing and I’m looking forward to future reading.
Best
Barney
Hi Barney,
Thank you for your kind comment. Let me know if it worked for you.
Cheers
Bas
hello Bas
good presentation pathway of describing the matter
How interesting! And how apt. For someone who must don several roles including project manager this is a great help. I’m sure this will help so many people.
Thank you.
D.