Using a product backlog is a common practice when organizing a development project. However, it has many limitations that you can overcome using Story Mapping.
Better communication, especially since the story map is created by multiple team members who can align around the same ideas, vision and goals.
Is story mapping better than using product backlogs?
While I can't say that one approach is better than the other, I can say that historical maps bring some interesting benefits. The main one is that by creating a story map, the development team gets a clearer picture of what they are about to build. This clarity comes from the visual form of the map over the somewhat abstract nature of the product backlog.
With that said, I'm not knocking product backlogs. A good product manager can easily create a solid product backlog that contains everything developers need to build the software, including features, timelines, sprints, and releases. However, Story Mapping has a collaborative nature at its core, which can yield additional benefits.
What you should take away from all this is that Story Mapping can improve your approach to product development. It can help you tackle MVP Development and complex projects while improving communication between all team members. This alone shows why Story Mapping is relevant for development teams – because it helps different team members come together and align around shared goals.
