It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page when looking at its layout. The point of using Lorem Ipsum is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution of letters, as opposed to using 'Content here, content here', making it look like readable English.
Many desktop publishing packages and web page editors now use Lorem Ipsum as their default model text, and a search for 'lorem ipsum' will uncover many web sites still in their infancy.
Various versions have evolved over the years, sometimes by accident, sometimes on purpose (injected humour and the like).
Where does it come from?
Contrary to popular belief, Lorem Ipsum is not simply random text. It has roots in a piece of classical Latin literature from 45 BC, making it over 2000 years old. Richard McClintock, a Latin professor at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia, looked up one of the more obscure Latin words, consectetur, from a Lorem Ipsum passage, and going through the cites of the word in classical literature, discovered the undoubtable source.
Lorem Ipsum comes from sections 1.10.32 and 1.10.33 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum" (The Extremes of Good and Evil) by Cicero, written in 45 BC. This book is a treatise on the theory of ethics, very popular during the Renaissance. The first line of Lorem Ipsum, "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet..", comes from a line in section 1.10.32
Why do we use it?
The standard chunk of Lorem Ipsum used since the 1500s is reproduced below for those interested.
Sections 1.10.32 and 1.10.33 from "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum" by Cicero are also reproduced in their exact original form, accompanied by English versions from the 1914 translation by H. Rackham.
The standard chunk of Lorem Ipsum used since the 1500s
Either way the SQM can help you and your team develop a solid focal point and foundation for the rest of your sprint. The SQM is not a fix for all mapping woes or blank page syndromes, but if you are working with a diverse and motivated team and your goals are focused on marketing this could be the Map alternative you are looking for. I hope you get a chance to try it out and look forward to your feedback.
Once you’ve made these selections you can move to the other quadrants. Depending on the number of ideas remaining, the team should generally be able as a group to move the remaining ideas into the remaining two quadrants on their own. This can be preferable to voting especially as these ideas are not seen as “winners” or losers and there is generally less tension around their placement. In fact, the conversation around their more precise placement and fit can help the team better define the categories and the relationships between the different ideas on the map.
At this point it’s also fine for the team to decide to move one or two of these ideas to the upper right quadrant, but I would recommend not removing previously voted ideas out from that quadrant. Once this is complete it’s time to fine tune the ideas in the upper right quadrant. As before this can be done in open discussion. In fact, in many cases I’ve found that the team will make these finer adjustments as they are adjusting the other quadrants. If not, make sure to take the time to review and define the location of these ideas. Finally, give the decider an opportunity to add move or adjust any of the ideas on the quadrant. This will leave you with an agreed upon map as well as alignment on the products, services or attributes your team believes are most unique and important to your customer.