Map

These methods share a mechanism: position on two axes, meaning from the zone you land in. The zone — not the quadrant — is the unit that matters, so this tool speaks zones: presets, N×M grids, and inequality rules for corners and diagonal bands. Positions are honest ("roughly here"), the readout is opinionated.

Assumption mapping (importance × evidence) ranks what to test next: high-importance, low-evidence assumptions go to test first, and the tool nags until each has a designed test. Cheap test methods: interview five people who felt the problem this week; prototype a fake door or concierge version; data pull — find behaviour you already log. “Ask the room for priors” collects independent judgement before that work; it is not a test or new evidence. Sources: Teresa Torres, Continuous Discovery Habits; David J. Bland, Testing Business Ideas.

Stakeholder grids (power × interest) date to Mendelow (1991): manage closely, keep satisfied, keep informed, monitor. The tool flags high-power stakeholders you haven't read an attitude on — those are the ones who surprise you.

Futures matrices cross your two most critical uncertainties and name the four worlds (Schwartz, The Art of the Long View; the GBN two-axes method). Rename the scenarios right on the map; drag signals into worlds as they arrive.

Risk grids (probability × impact) get diagonal severity bands rather than a rigid matrix — and a health warning: risk matrices compress ruthlessly (Cox 2008), so treat the register as an agenda, not an answer.