A journey map shows what one kind of person goes through to reach one goal, step by step, with what they think and feel on the way. It is a picture of research, not a substitute for it.
Written as practical advice. Where a step rests on established research practice, the source is listed under References. Nothing here is a universal rule.
One actor, one goal, a clear start and end. A map of everyone doing everything says nothing.
The big stages in the person's terms, such as find, apply, wait, receive. Not your internal process names.
What the person actually does at each step, from the research.
In their words where you have them. Mark the low points.
Where it breaks, where they wait, where they are handed between teams.
What could change, and who could change it. A map with no owners changes nothing.
Senior designer note“The map is done when it changes what someone works on next.”
Reference