Actor mapping can help agile teams deliver better software
With over two decades of experience in the technology sector, Ayesha Bagus offers key insights into actor mapping and how the tool can be used in the software development process.
If you want to develop software that meets your requirements, the actor mapping technique might help!
By visually representing key stakeholders, or "actors" and their actions you can identify opportunities and potential conflict points early in the software development process.
In this question and answer, Ayesha Bagus delves into how actor mapping seamlessly integrates with agile software development practices, highlighting its benefits and offering practical insights on how development teams can use the power of actor mapping.
Ayesha is a certified agile scrum master who also leads People Development at KRS, a software development company in Cape Town that specialises in web application development.
She has two decades of experience in the South African technology landscape and advocates that agile teams leverage actor mapping for effective and targeted interventions to enhance development workflows.
1. Can you briefly explain the concept of actor mapping?
The actor mapping technique encourages development teams to adopt a systems thinking perspective in their decision-making processes to anticipate changes and understand the impact of change interventions on the project. Actor maps are a type of system map designed to reveal the network of people and organizations within a given system and how they are interrelated.
The aim is to gain a deeper understanding of the stakeholder’s values, models, incentives and the power dynamics in the system. Actor mapping provides a clearer, comprehensive understanding of who is involved in a system and how they are connected, facilitating better decision-making, strategy formulation, and improved project outcomes.
2. How does actor mapping differ from agile mapping techniques like user story mapping?
Every mapping tool offers unique value. User story mapping is great for visualising the user experience (UX) and works well in guiding feature development, while actor mapping helps teams understand the broader context of the solution they are building and the system they operate in. Using mapping techniques helps teams get a more comprehensive understanding of their environment, which empowers them to create beautiful human-centered solutions.
3. What are some common challenges Agile development teams might face when building actor maps and how can they counter these challenges?
When we get into the technical detail of our work, we often underestimate how incomplete our knowledge of the whole system is. There is value in drawing on diversity of thought, opinions and experience. There are also often hidden actors, and this is where applying systems thinking and asking probing questions can really help reveal influences that are unseen or concealed.
Also look out for bias in actor identification due to preconceived notions, personal biases, or group thinking. This distortion can create an incomplete or inaccurate representation of the system, ultimately affecting decision making and outcomes.
An actor map is a living document that should be revisited as the system changes. As systems thinkers often emphasise, “The only constant is change.” Our understanding of a system must be dynamic and responsive.
4. Where in the software development process can actor mapping be applied to benefit teams?
An actor mapping workshop can be utilised whenever a change in the development process is anticipated. The software space is synonymous with change, whether it’s introducing new features, refactoring code, or adjusting to shifts in user needs or market demands. It ensures holistic planning beyond software build to consider impacts that can make or break the success of a project.
5. What tools or frameworks do you recommend for teams looking to implement actor mapping effectively?
The systems thinking framework is an excellent conceptual approach to problem-solving. It focuses on understanding the relationships and interactions between different components within a system.
Systems mapping is another visual technique used in systems thinking. It helps stakeholders represent and analyse the components, relationships, and dynamics of a system. This process is critical for problem solving, decision making, and facilitating communication among team members or stakeholders.
6. What advice would you give project leaders newly exposed to actor mapping?
When working with software developers, introducing non-technical tools or concepts like actor mapping can be challenging because they thrive in environments where logic, structure, and code are key.
The goal for project leaders is to help them see that, much like learning a new codebase, comprehensively understanding the people who will use a system before making any changes is just as critical. Actor mapping offers a broader view. It complements technical skills by ensuring a systems-oriented perspective, enabling more meaningful and strategic development decisions.
Conclusion
This question and answer offers a concise look at the actor mapping tool, highlighting its advantages and explaining how it differs from other modeling tools used by agile teams, providing practical advice for teams aiming to implement it.
Actor mapping encourages teams to look beyond the obvious and recognise hidden connections, making it a powerful approach for tackling "wicked problems" and growing complexity.