What is the purpose of User Story Mapping?

User Story Mapping is a visual exercise that helps teams articulate service requirements and foster a deeper understanding among team members regarding user needs and the entire user journey. It emphasizes the mapping of user stories in relation to the tasks users undertake, which enhances clarity about what the users truly require from a service or product. This practice not only aids in prioritizing development efforts based on user value but also facilitates collaboration among team members, ensuring everyone has a shared understanding of goals and outcomes.

In contrast, the other options focus on unrelated aspects of product development. Creating marketing materials is more about communication and promotion, detailing financial forecasts is concerned with financial planning rather than user needs, and determining final product design features tends to come later in the development process, often after initial user requirements have already been established. The essence of User Story Mapping lies in its role in aligning the team's understanding with user expectations and requirements, making it integral to effective service design and development.