Idea Map #104 - $55 Million USD Investment Opportunity

Ben Clarke is the exploration manager for a small oil and gas exploration company in Norway called Excel Expro. It's a start-up company, just over a year old, and they’ve had to build their strategy from scratch. I met Ben as a result of his desire to receive a copy of Bill Miller's idea map titled "Productivity Central" featured April 16, 2008.This is Ben's first contribution to the blog and I'll let him tell his story in his own words.

"MindManager has been really useful, to first brainstorm, and then easily rearrange ideas into a coherent strategy. The main benefits of using MindManager in this example are the clarity of presentation (compared to a long Word document), the ease of updating status of each action, and the option to quickly rearrange ideas to refocus. I use mind maps for everything from planning a $12m annual budget, to recruiting staff, to planning detailed work flows, arranging a possible trade sale of part of the company (which is the map shown above) and arranging my holiday. I find it very easy to communicate ideas to my team using the tool – it’s far clearer and more logical than making yet another PowerPoint presentation."

Thanks for sharing Ben! Watch for more idea maps from Ben. I already have another one of his in the cue. If anyone wants to have his original MindManager file, I'm happy to send it to you if you email me your request.

Idea Maps #79-85 - VizThink Breakout Session

On Friday February 1, 2008 I blogged about the VizThink Conference in San Francisco for which I was fortunate to be a speaker. This posting is soley dedicated to the breakout session that Susi Watson and I did together on January 28, 2008.

I'll describe these maps from top to bottom. The first map is the agenda for the 90-minute session. Susi pre-drew the central image, and the rest she created live while participants also created their agenda maps.

After several activities which taught how idea maps are created, we shared a number of uses for idea maps from corparations and individuals around the globe. This "Uses" map housed all of our examples.

Next we did a group activity around the question, "What Would Make Your 2008 Great"? In groups of 4-5, participants individually brainstormed around that question and then merged all of their ideas onto a large map. Maps from 3 groups are included here. Finally while looking for commonality across all of the maps, Susi (along with input from the group) created a high-level MindManager template for anyone to begin thinking about what would make 2008 GREAT!

Idea Map #76 - VizThink Breakout Sessions

I was fortunate to be one of the facilitators at the VizThink '08 Conference this week in San Francisco, CA. On Saturday I began to study the various session descriptions to see which ones I wanted to attend. I looked at a list of session titles which showed the time, location, and last name of the presenter. Then I would go to another page on their wiki to see the facilitators' photos (because we were meeting as a group Sunday night and I wanted to remember names), and then I would click through to their profile and session description.

This map (created in MindManager) put all that information into one place. Each main branch represents the time slot. Each sub-branch has the facilitator name, an image that represented their work or session, their photo, the session title & location, and a link to their web page or blog. If you want to see the LARGER and clearer pdf version click here. If you click on any column it will sort alphabetically and you can then search by author or title. Unfortunately the links were lost in the jpeg and pdf files, but you can see the live links here.

Idea Map #75 - Clouds

Steve Rothwell is a previous contributor to this blog and today he shares an idea map he created purely for his own enjoyment. His map about Clouds was inspired by Roberto Vidales's map on Trees. Above you will see both the full view and the folded view -- both created in MindManager. You can see a clearer pdf version of the FULL map on my website. If you click on any column it will sort the maps alphabetically and you can then search by author or title.

Steve's other two maps are from the April 19, 2007 posting and Idea Maps #10 and #11.

Dynamic Dashboard Drastically Improves Productivity - Idea Map #71 Featured in today's January Mindjet Newsletter

Overview
In the Spring of 2007, I introduced Denny Sikkila (Mindjet Central Region Manager) to one of my clients at a large automotive company here in Michigan. Denny helped her build a MindManager prototype to develop a Program Dashboard that has transformed their weekly status meetings. Not only has it saved them time in preparing for meetings, it has also resulted in more effective meetings.

Before
Every week a group of 35 IT project leaders would gather to review the status of the most major IT projects happening within the organization. In order to prepare for the meeting, a team of 4 people had to build a document approximately 85 pages in length. Each week they:

• Required that all data was updated with actuals: project work plans, financials, issues, risks, scope control, and metrics reports
• Cut the data out of each source and pasted the data (as a picture) into the document
• Printed the 85-page status document
  

Because of the time-consuming task of cutting and pasting, the document was out-of-date by the time it was printed. (The weekly cut and paste took 2 days to execute.) The 85-page document was difficult to review and required the 35+ people to set aside two hours each week to report statuses. The team spent more time shuffling back and forth through the 85 pages and debating why the data was out-of-date, than they spent understanding the status and reviewing and resolving issues.

A mandated reduction in their staff forced them to become more efficient. This led to the idea of creating a dashboard and eliminating the cut and paste process. MindManager was the perfect tool. It allowed them to quickly and easily create a dashboard that linked directly to all the data.

The New Process
Today there is only one requirement in this process. The meeting participants need to make sure their data is up-to-date before it's their turn to discuss any status. This Mindjet-driven dashboard links to over 50 files and 10 weblinks.

All the cutting, pasting, and printing have been eliminated -- which saves approximately 20 hours per week. They've also reduced status meetings from 2 hours to 1. But more importantly, the meetings have reach a higher level of maturity. All information is reviewed electronically (via a projector). The team members can sit in a meeting and update the data real time. For example, if an issue needs to be reworded, it's done right there and then. Today the focus of the meeting is on analyzing the data instead of making excuses and debating out-of-date information. With the click of the mouse, tons of data can be accessed quickly and easily. Instead of reviewing a hard copy picture, files are accessed in real time. This allows for the ability to drill down to the specific tasks, hours, predecessors, etc. They can now make informed decisions right on the spot, because they have access to all the correct data. MindManager has transformed the way this project manager runs this program.

Are you wondering how this group of 35 reacted the first time this process went from the static paper version to the electronic dashboard? I happened to be witness to this first debut. The transition was seamless, it was simple to follow, and there wasn't a person in the room that wasn't impressed. I'll bet there is a process in your organization that could use a MindManager dashboard! To see the clearer pdf version of this map, go to my website and click on the column titled map name. It will show titles alphabetically, and you can scroll down to "Program Dashboard".

To see other maps created by this project manager see: Dare to Dream, Then Do It, and DeBono's Six Thinking Hats. Today this map is featured in my monthly contribution to the Mindjet Newsletter. If you would like to subscribe to the Mindjet Monthly Newsletter click here.

The Now Habit - Idea Map #67

The Now Habit is a book written by Neil Fiore. These idea maps of Fiore's book were created by Luciano Passuello from Brazil (his blog is in English) using MindManager. The top map is the folded version, and the bottom map includes all the details. For more of Luciano's maps, see his blog. To see his idea map of the book One Small Step Can Change Your Life see the December 11, 2007 posting, and for the book Never Eat Alone see the November 19, 2007 posting.

For the pdf version of the folded map go to my website. If you click on any column it will sort alphabetically and you can then search by author or map title, etc.

Idea Map #65 - One Small Step Can Change Your Life

One Small Step Can Change Your Life is a book written by Robert Maurer. The above map(s) on this book was created by Luciano Passuello from Brazil (his blog is in English) using MindManager software. The top idea map is the folded version, and the bottom map includes all the details. For more of Luciano's maps, see his blog. He also shared another map for the November 19, 2007 posting. For the pdf version of the full-sized map go to my website. If you click on any column it will sort alphabetically and you can then search by author or map title, etc.

Idea Map #61 - Never Eat Alone

Never Eat Alone is a book written by Keith Ferrazzi and Tahl Raz. The above map(s) on this book was created by Luciano Passuello from Brazil (his blog is in English) using MindManager software. The top idea map is the folded version, and the bottom map includes all the details. For more of Luciano's maps, see his blog. His October 16, 2007 entry gives more details on this book summary.

For the pdf version of his folded map go to my website. If you click on any column it will sort alphabetically and you can then search by author or map title, etc.

Idea Map #59 - 1st Idea Map in Chinese!!

I'm thrilled to share the first idea map in Chinese to be posted on this blog. This MindManager map is created by Yang Qin and contains her thoughts around decorating a room. Yang Qin is the wife of a friend of mine named Ji Hong. Ji Hong has contributed an idea map to this blog in the past. Now his wife joins him!

For the pdf version of this map go to my website. If you click on any column it will sort alphabetically and you can then search by author or map title, etc.

An Idea Map (#47) of the Idea Mapping Book

You will officially meet Kaye Nightingale from the UK via October's feature article in my column (Jamie's Idea Spot) in the Mindjet monthly newsletter. So this is your preview. Kaye sent me the first map (besides my own) that captures all the details from my book chapter by chapter. She used MindManager and created tons of links within the map. She stopped reading the book after chapter one when she realized she wanted to make a map of the book. Her blog entry tells her full story and a second posting shares the process of mapping a book. Thanks Kaye!

You can see a clearer pdf version of this map on my website under "Additional Maps". If you click on any column it will sort alphabetically and you can then search by author or title (An Idea Map of Jamie's Idea Mapping Book) of the map.

You can view the Mindjet Monthly Newsletters, subscribe to the newsletter, or download a trial version of software.

Idea Map #37 - Planning a Meeting

Don Snyder (better know as Don The Idea Guy) introduced me to Jim Canterucci, the author of a book called Personal Brilliance. Last month Jim and his wife Holly were in town, and I had a chance to meet with them in person. When Jim started the meeting he pulled out this map that he created using MindManager. I was so impressed that I had to show off his work. You'll hear more about Jim in the future, but for now here is your introduction. To discover your Personal Brilliance Quotient, go to www.mypersonalbrilliance.com.

Idea Map #21 Featured in the News-Gazette

On June 23, 2007 the News-Gazette in Champaign, Illinois featured an article and the above map in their local paper. Kaizad Irani is an expert in landscape architecture and design, and long-time Idea Mapper. He uses MindManager software to begin every landscape design. You can read this and the associated articles by clicking here. The above map was in the actual hard copy of the newspaper, but was not included in the online version.

Hint #7 & Idea Map #13 - A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Today's postings are a double whammy! I am going to contrast two idea maps. They contain identical data, but one of them also includes images. These maps were created in MindManager by Vickie Flis. She wanted to prove to her sons that you could create a map of a book. She read John Maxwell's book, Dare to Dream Then Do It, and then created these maps. Above is the map WITH images. The other entry today is the same idea map WITHOUT images.

I have heard some business people claim that pictures aren't necessary. Maybe not in all cases, but I would really have to think hard to find a scenario where images didn't provide a benefit in some way. But then that's me. What do you think? Which one do you prefer?

Click here for the pdf version that is larger and easier to read the details.

Hint #7 & Idea Map #12 - A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Today's postings are a double whammy! I am going to contrast two idea maps. They contain identical data, but one of them also includes images. These maps were created in MindManager by Vickie Flis. She wanted to prove to her sons that you could create a map of a book. She read John Maxwell's book, Dare to Dream Then Do It, and then created these maps. Above is the map WITHOUT images. The other entry today is the same idea map WITH images.

I have heard some business people claim that pictures aren't necessary. Maybe not in all cases, but I would really have to think hard to find a scenario where images didn't provide a benefit in some way. But then that's me. What do you think? Which one do you prefer?

Click here for the pdf version that is larger and easier to read the details.

Hint #5 - If Your Idea Map Gets Messy, Should You Re-draw It?

What do you do when your map gets a bit sloppy? The purpose of your idea map or mind map may fall into one of several categories, so let me provide some suggestions for some scenarios.

1. This idea map is for my "to do" list. For some reason there can be a tendancy for people (myself included) to want these maps to look like pieces of artwork instead of seeing them as functional tools created to meet a purpose. I had to allow myself to cross off completed items and squeeze new items onto the maps until the map was such a mess I needed to start fresh. Recreating the map each time it got a tiny bit messy, became a waste of time. These types of maps should not be re-drawn until absolutely necessary.
2. This idea map is for an application that has a sequence to it (a process, a schedule, or a presentation for example). During the creation of a map the ideas are generated randomly, so it is unlikely that your map will be perfectly sequential on the first draft. The initial map provides the opportunity for you to step back and see the data from the big picture view. This enables you to re-sequence (maybe by numbering the branches), discover relationships between data points, and in some cases re-organize. If you are creating a linear document from this map, there is no need to re-draw. If you are using this map in the future or presenting from it, I would re-draw a final version.
3. This idea map contains a large amount of information. If you find the re-drawing process cumbersome or annoying, maybe you should use software to make the editing process extremely easy.

I guess the bottom line is to determine the purpose of your map before re-drawing it multiple times. Don't re-draw the map just for the sake of re-drawing. Sloppy idea maps can be just as useful as the most beautifully drawn example!

Live Idea Mapping - An Advanced Application

On Friday March 23rd I joined forces with a long-time client of mine. She is an IT Systems Thinking expert in a large automotive company in southeastern Michigan. Her job was to facilitate an internal organization through a 4.5-hour process that analyzed where they were at today and how they would co-create their future. I'm guessing there were somewhere between 200-250 leaders in attendance.

Afterwards, the entire group had an opportunity to share outcomes, responses, and their thoughts going forward. My role at this point was to create 3 Idea Maps as the group responded to 3 different questions. The idea maps were created live using MindManager software and projected on a huge screen at the front of the room so that the participants could see it grow in the moment. No one in the room had seen this method of capturing data. I made jpgs of the maps and they will be distributed to all of the participants as part of the meeting follow-up and next steps. In my book I call this "Real-Time Idea Mapping".

I highly recommend this technique for those of you who feel very comfortable with your idea-mapping skills. I've done this live using hand-drawn maps as well, but in this instance there was no way for the group to see the outcome without projecting the maps. My only suggestion when capturing data live is that you need to move FAST and it helps if you can have one additional person sitting next to you who might hear something you don't because the information comes at you so quickly. Those issues discussed in the meeting will be more memorable as a result of using this tool. Due to the proprietary nature of the content, I can't share these examples, sorry.