The mapping technique, usually called “cognitive mapping” was developed in 1948 by Edward Tolman, one of the early cognitive psychologists to explain the behavior of rats that appeared to learn the spatial layout of a maze. As part of exploratory and discovery-based research, a cognitive mapping sessions allows people to create a visual representation of their mental models on anything relating to the planned project. It’s an advanced form of a mind map (which only shows relationships of elements)
User story mapping (CJM) is a form of cognitive mapping used by software companies in Agile processes for release planning. Gathered ideas are sorted horizontally based on a user story/user goal or system process, vertically based on implementation effort or release date.
Customer journey mapping is a form of cognitive mapping used by Digital Product / UX designers to define the experience of a customer across time.
At the end of the day, all mapping methods – no matter what they are called – try to unite the vision of individuals in a company on how to make money into a coherent, actionable and executable plan for everyone.