

A mind mapping tool will help capture these ideas as each idea becomes a node in the map. Since no idea is a bad one during the brainstorming phase, a lot of random ideas can be captured. In a brainstorming session, ideas are written on index cards or announced for a scribe to document on a whiteboard. Mind mapping is a useful technique to conduct a brainstorming session or define a project’s scope. I’ve found this approach to be much easier than capturing notes in a notebook. As the conversation jumps around, you simply take notes on the appropriate node. Mind mapping helps to document the conversation as each tangent becomes a separate node. Despite having an agenda, many meetings can go off in different directions. As you might imagine, solving a problem with unspecified scope and a preconceived deadline can lead to a lot of tangents. Most of my projects start out with a good ol’ meeting where we discuss a business problem needing a technology solution that somehow has an already predetermined deadline. Manage non-linear conversations with ease Here are five reasons to use mind maps for your next project.ġ. You can use mind mapping software like MindGenius or Mindjet MindManager or go low tech with paper and a few multi-colored pens. Mind mapping is a way to describe an idea, project or collection of thoughts by drawing out nodes, branches, colors, and icons. But here’s one of my favorites I reach for at the beginning of a project: mind maps. I previously wrote about the 7 different tools teams can use to gather software requirements. From scheduling software and project management tools that help teams plan, execute and manage projects, to low-tech whiteboards, index cards, paper, and pens that help define the scope, identify requirements, and manage the day-to-day work. These days, the project management field has many different tools to choose from when managing and delivering projects.

If all the parts aren’t thought through and laid out well from the very beginning, you and your team could be stepping into a potential minefield. There’s so much to consider when walking into a new project, it can be overwhelming even for the most seasoned project manager.
