Situational Framework

Wardley Maps

A technique for mapping value chains and plotting components by their evolution (Genesis, Custom, Product, Commodity) to identify strategic leverage points and anticipate competitive moves.

52 Industries Analysed
8.8/10 Avg Fit Score
3 GTIAS Pillars
23 Attributes

How to Apply This Framework

Use your industry's GTIAS scorecard data as the input for a Wardley Maps analysis.

  1. 1

    Open the industry scorecard

    Go to your target industry and open its full scorecard. Focus on the DT, LI, IN pillars — these carry the primary signals for Wardley Maps.

  2. 2
  3. 3

    Review an industry application

    Open one of the industry analyses below to see a complete Wardley Maps output — structured from that industry's GTIAS attribute scores, not generic templates.

Industry Applications

52 industries have a full Wardley Maps analysis. Click any industry to read the detailed breakdown.

0990 Support activities for other mining and quarrying
10/10 View →

The 'Support activities for other mining and quarrying' industry operates within highly complex, capital-intensive, and often hostile environments.

9900 Activities of extraterritorial organizations and bodies
9/10 View →

The complex, multi-tiered dependency on host-country systems and political stability makes spatial mapping essential for risk management.

7010 Activities of head offices
9/10 View →

Head offices often struggle with 'administrative bloat' and redundant operational layers.

6611 Administration of financial markets
9/10 View →

Financial markets are deeply layered, highly interdependent ecosystems.

7310 Advertising
9/10 View →

The advertising industry is characterized by rapid technological evolution, a highly fragmented ad-tech landscape, and intense competition.

6411 Central banking
9/10 View →

Central banking involves managing highly complex, interdependent systems (e.

3812 Collection of hazardous waste
9/10 View →

The industry is highly complex with deep, interdependent supply chains; mapping clarifies where to build, buy, or outsource components to avoid systemic bottlenecks.

6202 Computer consultancy and computer facilities management activities
9/10 View →

The computer consultancy and facilities management industry is characterized by complex value chains, rapid technological evolution, and constant pressure to innovate while also optimizing costs for commoditized services.

6201 Computer programming activities
9/10 View →

Wardley Maps are highly relevant to the Computer programming activities industry due to its dynamic nature.

6311 Data processing, hosting and related activities
9/10 View →

The Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Activities industry is characterized by rapid technological evolution (IN02), intense competition, particularly from hyperscalers (ER06), complex multi-layered value chains (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS), and significant capital expenditure (ER03).

8421 Foreign affairs
9/10 View →

Diplomacy is characterized by complex, evolving environments where decision-making relies on high-quality intelligence and precise resource allocation.

0128 Growing of spices, aromatic, drug and pharmaceutical crops
9/10 View →

The supply chain for aromatic and pharmaceutical crops is fragmented and opaque; mapping creates the clarity needed to identify bottlenecks and structural vulnerabilities.

7740 Leasing of intellectual property and similar products, except copyrighted works
9/10 View →

The industry's success depends on the lifecycle management of assets; mapping their evolution against market maturity is directly aligned with identifying when to divest or aggressively lease.

9101 Library and archives activities
9/10 View →

The Library and archives sector is undergoing profound digital transformation, yet often operates with limited resources and significant legacy infrastructure.

2630 Manufacture of communication equipment
9/10 View →

The industry is highly dynamic, capital-intensive, and globalized, making strategic planning exceptionally complex.

2610 Manufacture of electronic components and boards
9/10 View →

The electronics industry is highly modular and hierarchical.

2680 Manufacture of magnetic and optical media
9/10 View →

Mapping is essential for legacy industries undergoing structural decline to identify which parts of the value chain have become pure commodities, facilitating decisions to exit production versus pivot to specialized high-value services.

6391 News agency activities
9/10 View →

Essential for breaking legacy technical debt and aligning operational investment with rapidly shifting digital ecosystems.

6629 Other activities auxiliary to insurance and pension funding
9/10 View →

High complexity in the insurance value chain makes visualization of dependency and evolution critical for long-term survival against fintech disintermediation.

8299 Other business support service activities n.e.c.
9/10 View →

The ISIC 8299 industry, by its very nature, provides a wide array of support services, many of which are evolving rapidly due to digital transformation.

6399 Other information service activities n.e.c.
9/10 View →

The industry is plagued by legacy technical debt and poor visibility into supply-chain dependencies.

6209 Other information technology and computer service activities
9/10 View →

The ISIC 6209 industry thrives on understanding and navigating complex technological landscapes, which is precisely what Wardley Maps facilitate.

7990 Other reservation service and related activities
9/10 View →

The sector suffers from high systemic entanglement (LI06) and data aggregation noise (DT03).

6190 Other telecommunications activities
9/10 View →

Telecommunications is highly complex with deep value chains; mapping effectively exposes hidden dependencies and aging legacy components.

5229 Other transportation support activities
9/10 View →

The logistics sector is currently undergoing a massive evolution from manual, custom processes to digital, commodity-like services.

0163 Post-harvest crop activities
9/10 View →

Post-harvest activities have clear dependencies on physical infrastructure and digital documentation.

8423 Public order and safety activities
9/10 View →

High relevance due to massive public sector investment in long-lifecycle, high-inertia assets where 'build vs.

8412 Regulation of the activities of providing health care, education, cultural services and other social services, excluding social security
9/10 View →

Given the high level of technical debt and bureaucratic fragmentation in ISIC 8412, the situational awareness provided by Wardley mapping is vital to prevent vendor lock-in and align technology investment with policy outcomes.

3900 Remediation activities and other waste management services
9/10 View →

Waste management is undergoing a significant transition from local, manual handling to globalized, automated, and digitized ecosystems, making situational mapping essential to avoid obsolescence.

9521 Repair of consumer electronics
9/10 View →

The electronics repair industry is heavily dependent on the evolution of parts.

3314 Repair of electrical equipment
9/10 View →

High structural dependency on OEM supply chains and legacy technology makes this a perfect tool for identifying where to build 'moats' versus where to commoditize operations for cost reduction.

3313 Repair of electronic and optical equipment
9/10 View →

Extremely high fit due to the complex, multi-layered supply chain of electronic parts and the varying levels of technological evolution in different repair segments.

3315 Repair of transport equipment, except motor vehicles
9/10 View →

The sector has a clear mix of evolving technologies (e.

7210 Research and experimental development on natural sciences and engineering
9/10 View →

Wardley Maps are exceptionally well-suited for the R&D on natural sciences and engineering industry.

8020 Security systems service activities
9/10 View →

The Security Systems Service Activities industry is highly dynamic, characterized by rapid technological advancements, evolving customer expectations, and the constant threat of commoditization in certain segments.

5820 Software publishing
9/10 View →

Software publishing involves complex, interconnected value chains comprising numerous components, from underlying infrastructure to bespoke application logic.

3530 Steam and air conditioning supply
9/10 View →

High capital intensity and long-term asset life cycles require precisely the kind of evolutionary visualization provided by Wardley mapping to prevent massive 'stranded asset' risks.

6430 Trusts, funds and similar financial entities
9/10 View →

Financial operations are defined by complex, layered dependencies that are ideal for visual mapping to identify bottlenecks and redundant infrastructure.

4651 Wholesale of computers, computer peripheral equipment and software
9/10 View →

The wholesale tech industry is in constant flux.

6110 Wired telecommunications activities
9/10 View →

The wired telecommunications industry is characterized by complex, layered infrastructure, a long history of technological evolution, and significant capital investment.

8411 General public administration activities
8/10 View →

Critical for addressing the 'Legacy Drag' prevalent in public administration by categorizing which systems are strategic assets versus those that are simply technical debt.

8030 Investigation activities
8/10 View →

The industry is at a crossroads where technology is rapidly shifting from specialized tools to commoditized digital services, making mapping critical for survival.

2219 Manufacture of other rubber products
8/10 View →

The 'Manufacture of other rubber products' industry is characterized by a complex global supply chain, reliance on volatile raw materials, ongoing technological evolution (e.

3099 Manufacture of other transport equipment n.e.c.
8/10 View →

Essential for resolving 'systemic entanglement' and 'sub-tier opacity' by forcing a structured view of the value chain.

3290 Other manufacturing n.e.c.
8/10 View →

The 'Other manufacturing n.

5812 Publishing of directories and mailing lists
8/10 View →

Essential for determining which data assets are becoming 'utilities' (commodities) versus those that remain 'differentiators' (product/custom) in a highly automated, AI-driven market.

8413 Regulation of and contribution to more efficient operation of businesses
8/10 View →

High relevance due to the industry's need to distinguish between core regulatory policy (custom) and the operational infrastructure (commodity) required to enforce it.

3319 Repair of other equipment
8/10 View →

High relevance because the sector is defined by the tension between aging assets and proprietary repair pathways; mapping provides a visual roadmap to navigate OEM lock-in.

6621 Risk and damage evaluation
8/10 View →

Essential for an industry facing rapid automation where identifying 'Genesis' technologies (like AI computer vision) versus 'Commodity' services (basic inspections) is critical for pricing power.

8810 Social work activities without accommodation for the elderly and disabled
8/10 View →

The social work sector for the elderly and disabled is characterized by complex value chains involving multiple stakeholders, funding streams, and diverse service components.

4930 Transport via pipeline
8/10 View →

The pipeline value chain is complex and geographically dispersed; Wardley mapping allows for the isolation of static infrastructure components from evolving digital and regulatory layers.

9492 Activities of political organizations
7/10 View →

Though typically a corporate tool, the high cost of redundant 'political tech' stacks and the need to optimize resource allocation during finite campaign cycles make it highly effective.

When This Framework Is Most Urgent

Macro trends currently activating the pillars this framework analyses — making it more timely and relevant.

Tools for Wardley Maps

Partners whose capabilities directly address the GTIAS attributes this framework analyses most.

Recommended Tool Top Pick hr services

Connecteam

Free plan available • 36,000+ businesses worldwide

Supports LI01

Industries with high logistical friction (mining, construction, field services, logistics) are precisely the sectors with large deskless workforces — Connecteam's scheduling and coordination tools are structurally relevant to the same operational conditions that drive high LI01 scores

Also addresses: LI02

Mobile-first workforce management platform for frontline and deskless teams — scheduling, time tracking, task management, internal communications, and digital checklists. Free plan for unlimited users. Built for hospitality, logistics, construction, retail, and other shift-based industries.

Coordinate your frontline team, for free

Independent recommendation matched to this industry's risk profile. We may earn a commission if you purchase — this never affects matching or scores.

Recommended Tool analytics

Databox

14-day free trial • 20,000+ teams and agencies

Supports DT06

Real-time KPI dashboards and automated analytics directly eliminate operational blindness — businesses without structured performance visibility accumulate decision lag that compounds into margin erosion, missed demand signals, and compliance failures before the problem becomes visible

Also addresses: DT08

AI-powered business analytics platform used by 20,000+ teams and agencies — connects to 130+ data sources, builds real-time KPI dashboards, automates reporting, and provides AI-driven performance analysis. Best-of-BI without the enterprise complexity, price, or learning curve.

See every KPI live, without the complexity

Independent recommendation matched to this industry's risk profile. We may earn a commission if you purchase — this never affects matching or scores.

Recommended Tool software

ElevenLabs

World's leading voice AI • ElevenAgents in 70+ languages • No engineering required

Supports IN02

ElevenLabs enables DIG-archetype businesses to adopt voice AI without engineering resources — a direct response to the legacy-drag risk facing industries transitioning their customer communication stack to AI-native workflows.

Also addresses: DT09

ElevenLabs is the leading generative voice AI platform — offering expressive Text-to-Speech, Speech-to-Text (Scribe), Voice Cloning, AI Dubbing in 70+ languages, and ElevenAgents, a no-code platform for building real-time conversational voice agents using your own knowledge base and SOPs.

Build a voice AI agent for your industry

Independent recommendation matched to this industry's risk profile. We may earn a commission if you purchase — this never affects matching or scores.

Apply This Strategy

See how Wardley Maps applies to real industries in our comprehensive profiles.