User Story Map Template

About the User Story Map Template

First popularized by Jeff Patton in 2005, user story mapping is an agile way to manage product backlogs.

User story mapping is a framework that product teams use for release planning. The user story map template helps teams stay focused on business value and release features that customers care about. 

The map consists of user stories written in the following way:

As a < type of user >, I want < some goal > so that < some outcome >. 

Here is an example: 

As a creative professional, I want to organize my schedule, so that I have more free time. 

This framework helps teams get a shared understanding of what needs to be done to satisfy customers' needs.

How to use Miro's user story map template

Miro’s user story mapping template allows you to manage stories collaboratively online. Here’s how to create your team canvas and put it to work:

1. Add the user story map template to a Miro board

Get started by clicking “Use This Template.” The template is set up with blank cards to add user activities, tasks, and stories. 

2. Identify your user persona, then describe step-by-step user tasks

Group user tasks by goals or activities of the user. Expand a card to write more text and quickly format it. Then, add valuable details by filling in due dates, assignees, tags, and links.

3. Prioritize the stories for a sprint

To edit the structure of your map, drag and drop individual cards or groups of cards, and the template will adjust automatically. 

Insert sections for upcoming releases and versions. Note that user story mapping is different from feature planning.

4. Get ready for a sprint

If you work with Jira, paste an issue URL or convert cards to Jira issues right from the board. The cards will automatically sync, and can easily be moved around to ensure the template is always up-to-date for each sprint.

5. Collaborate with your team

Invite your team to contribute and work together in real-time or asynchronously. Refer to the user story map over time as you create new product iterations, update it based on new data or findings as users try the product.

When to use the user story map template

Miro's user story mapping template provides a flexible approach to product development. The template allows Product Managers and Scrum Masters to create and map user stories, connect Jira cards, and foster collaboration within the team.

There are many benefits to using the user story mapping template, including:

Identify each step in the customer journey

One of the significant benefits of user story mapping is that it walks you through each customer touchpoint and gives you a holistic view of the customer experience. 

For designers and product developers, it’s easy to lose track of the backlog, so having an overview of the customer experience from early on is critical to shape a better product.

Visualize & manage product backlog

The user story mapping template also helps teams map out specific tasks that need to be completed dynamically and visually. You can identify large projects, break them into constituent tasks, and assign them to specific team members, all with the overarching customer-centric framework driving the process. 

Brainstorm & prioritize tasks

Plotting out the user flow through your product via a user story map helps you identify gaps in the journey. Your team can see the map from end-to-end and brainstorm tasks and projects to fill in gaps and prioritize these tasks collaboratively.