One of the reasons why epic stories can be used for navigation is the landcape rarely changes over the life of the epic story (i.e. geological features are only fluid on huge timescales) ... this is not true with business. The world of biz today is not the same as 50 yrs ago.
... equally mental models are fine on short distances or when you know the path. They just stumble when exploring a changing environment or the unknown or in communication as we often have hidden assumptions and without maps then there is no way to challenge.
Maps are, of course, a visual form of storytelling but more than this they provide a systematic mechanism of learning and of challenge. They are are a more effective form of communication if your concern is navigation and the landscape ...
... but maps won't give you the softer side of the journey. They won't tell you how someone felt on their journey nor the delight they had of discovering a new path. Maps just tell you how to get from A to B and what the landscape is like.
If you want the softer side then you need a guide book. If you want to get troops to the right place then you need a map. Different things, each with different perspectives.
