Javelo.io vs. StoriesOnBoard

In my experience with using Javelo to complete my career evaluations, it generally performs adequately as long as I complete the full review in a single session. Once you're in the written question-and-answer portion of the review, the platform gives clear guidance and is easy to follow. However, if you exit the session partway through, it is difficult to find out what actions you have remaining. The dashboard language is ambiguous in this case, using terms like 'preparation' to refer to the written review (because it is in preparation for the in-person interview). Also 'finalization' means completing the written interview but there is another acknowledgment that needs to be completed after the in-person interview; it is only after this step that the full evaluation cycle is complete. Additionally, I have had the experience of my in-progress session not being saved although I took what I thought were the right steps to save my answers to return to later. After the first time this happened, I made sure to type everything in a separate document and just paste it into Javelo rather than risk having to start over again.

Incentivized

As mentioned earlier, we also use StoriesOnBoard to create other processes (customer and employee journey). We use the swim lanes to differentiate between measures, tools and processes and working with them is very easy and understandable for this purpose.

Less easy is the use of context, i.e. when one part of a story map depends on another story map. This cannot be avoided (at least for us) to avoid creating redundancy (and the risk of creating different stages). At appropriate places, we refer to the other map in the title.

• Once you are in the review portion of the platform, following the prompts is straightforward.
• The dashboard shows clear indicators of whether you have an action remaining in the review process.

Incentivized

• User role management
• Jira integration
• Keyboard shortcuts
• Filtering by personas

• If you exit the review before completing all prompts, the answers will not always be saved. I have had this happen twice when I couldn't finish the questions in a single sitting and despite saving my session, I had to start from the beginning.
• When returning to an in-progress session (assuming it is saved correctly), it is less clear at what stage in the review process you are, and what is remaining.
• I have had difficulties with the language defaulting to French on my login page and in automated emails.

Incentivized

• Switching the view to a vertical mode (easier to scroll).
• Better availability of information on user story mapping.
• Possibility to link to activities and steps from other maps (Context).

StoriesOnBoard works really well; all features are well thought through. It could look a bit fresher, although the new updated dashboard is already much better than it was.

Javelo.io is the primary platform my company uses for reviews and interviews; the other products mentioned primarily serve as HR management and organization (such as PTO requests, employee handbooks & guidelines, salary calculator, org structure, and benefits enrollment). In that regard, Javelo.io offers a more social-focused approach to HR that is well-suited for performance reviews and interviews.

Incentivized

The only other competitor we looked at was cardboardit.com. Both had solid functionality, but StoriesOnBoard was more user-friendly and quick to learn and use in our opinion.

• More timely completion of reviews (over 80% completed before the deadline in the last cycle).
• Better participation in career reviews.
• Provides a structured formula to career reviews that provides measurable indicators for analysis.

Incentivized

• StoriesOnBoard (and story mapping in general) creates a low-cost visual method of aligning on high-level business and technical requirements early in a project and provides an ongoing reference as the project progresses. Having this alignment is critical for the later stages of the project.