#Mindmapping ## The Many Uses of Mind mapping You can use mind mapping in many areas: for brainstorming, to take notes, to plan an essay, in problem-solving, to analyse a system, as a first step to model strategy and projects, to collect information. Or simply to clarify your thinking. As an example, this is a mind map from [Ayoa](https://ayoa.com/) defining the scope of the technical content and actions to create this site! ![[technical-content.png]] Below is a mind map created with Simplemind. ![[mindmapping general.PNG]] ## What is Mind mapping? Mind mapping can be useful to document business systems and in problem-solving or whenever you need to get some ideas down quickly, in meetings or to detail complex concepts. ![[mindmapping context.png]] ## The Value of Visual The visual-spatial nature of mind mapping can help to memorize; it taps into how we see the world. It allows us to express our thoughts and sentiments organically, in tune with how the brain actually generates them, which is non-linearly. Mind mapping is a way of collecting information related to a central theme or domain in a web-like structure. ## Mind mapping in a complex world Mind mapping can be a tool in the information workers’ arsenal for anyone who needs to summarize quickly, or to help us sift through the plethora of emails, concepts and subjects that we need to manage. ## The Mind Mapping Process To create a mind map, we need to allow ourselves to express freely. Encouraging flow may mean being in a quiet place, with at least one pomodoro (25 minutes) ahead of you. First mind dump and note what comes into your head. This is a creative state that generates ideas, without filtering or judgement. Then, you can sort and reorganize the basic content. We might perceive the logic only later when we analyse rationally. In management, the process is about making connections between seemingly disparate themes, linking them into projects that aim to address related items together. Software enhances this process because you can easily rearrange the nodes. On paper, it’s more about standing back, colouring-in, highlighting the important things, and doodling. ## The many uses of mind mapping To follow is an inventory of the many ways mind mapping can be used. Mind mapping is useful to plan an essay, in meetings, in business analysis, in problem-solving, in defining projects, to build a presentation, to gather data or just when collecting thoughts on a theme. ![[uses-of-mindmapping.png]] ## Brainstorming on a mind map You can use a mind map to record the results of free-association brainstorming. Drop onto the page all the concepts related to a central subject, to collate individual work, or to assist teams in identifying ideas, even when the end points are as yet undefined. Start anywhere, at just one observable corner, and visualize links – to things you can name, or not. Even if it’s ‘I don’t know about…’, allow yourself to consider possibilities, solutions, comments, opinions, facts, or just in reference. The detail of an item can be fleshed out later. This is essentially collective mind dumping, and while these aren’t the only ways to address problems, they can help to eke out an overall approach. The facilitator of such a session might aim not to channel discussion too much, but just to promote free-associative thought. Participants will write down their ideas (Post-its are good for this), which are stuck on a whiteboard. Then, in analysis mode, you can move them, scribble around them, link them, and organize suggestions into logical groups. ## Mind mapping to take notes Taking notes with a mind map helps to focus on a central theme and related subjects rather than the time sequence of the meeting. - A speaker gets up to talk - They introduce the subject and make a point - Various other points arise during discussion - The meeting comes to a conclusion When taking notes, do you find yourself making what is in effect a list – one item after another – in the order of events? Have you thought that it might also be quite useful to group by subject? The mind map below illustrates the text above: ![[mindmap-manual.png]] As the meeting progresses, discussion may well return to the same topics; new information can be tacked on in the right places. The notation focuses, therefore, on the central theme rather than on the order. The simplest use of mind mapping is to take notes quickly. However, students might spend much of their energy writing, instead of using the time to understand the subject in hand. Many people do this sequentially, perhaps because this is how we were taught at school. It may seem logical to list one item after another in the order presented, but the thoughts you have and team discussions about the solutions are more likely to be random. This is a software version of the above paper mind map: ![[mindmap-meeting-notes.png]] So a mind map helps you latch on to subjects as they come up, or as they return in discussion. You end up with a functional overview of the topics, rather than just the sequence of the meeting. ## Mind mapping in project definition A mind map is ideal for gathering ideas when defining or scoping a project. ## Mind mapping an Essay Plan You may need to clarify your thoughts on an area, whatever the context. Perhaps you’re writing a blog post, an essay, or identifying species of grass for a scientific study. You can make a list, but to get the whole picture, allow your mind to wander. Fire up your ability to make connections and record your ideas quickly. You can go back to flesh them out later. A mind map holds something magical over a list, and enables you to work on several fronts. The evolving mind map structure can accommodate all new ideas and will encourage you to generate more. ## Mind Mapping to Model Complex Situations Mind mapping can be used to model complex scenarios. You can use it to go down into some degree of detail, but most of all you can use it to express the many seemingly unrelated factors quickly that relate to a central theme. When you allow your mind to wander while focusing on a central domain, it will naturally throw out related factors by association. Mind mapping is therefore a perfect tool to note these down as they come and to classify things quickly at the top level or at the detailed level. This makes it an ideal method to take stock of and ultimately clarify a complex scenario with many levels, such as a system or a problem. ## Mind Mapping in Problem-Solving The first step of [[Issues Database as part of the Quality Process#Problem Solving|problem-solving]] is to scope out the problem to understand it better. This model can be a mind map as a starting point to analyse the scenario and find solutions. One could describe business life as one long string of issues. The essence of problem-solving is data collection. Questions to ask might be - What is the observed phenomenon? - What difficulty does it pose? - What are the consequences and the potential resolutions? Identify all information without trying to determine what the solution might be until all sources have been assessed. ![[mindmap problem solving DFD.png]] The solution may lie in making an inventory of, and connections between, the less obvious things. This is a mind map of themes focusing on technical translation. ![[mindmap-of-management.png]] The mind functions through neural connections, and the creativity in mapping systems comes from associating ideas, leading to new visions of previously unseen data. These can then be modelled into entity relationships and class diagrams. ## Mind mapping in Systems Modelling UML is a visual language that uses colour and form to complement the written description. Mind mapping is helpful to describe the real world as a precursor to more formal notation, and is a useful technique in categorizing informal or unstructured data. Mind mapping remains a powerful tool in the system architect’s armoury, in conjunction with UML, even in situations where the nature of the information is as yet unknown and the course of discussions uncharted. ## Mind Mapping in Business Analysis Mind mapping can be part of the initial steps in modelling to focus on how a system operates. It can bring together a wide variety of topics to document the relationships that affect a business area. It can participate in the process of designing future configurations and help an analyst quickly collect feedback on changes that users would like to see implemented. ![[mindmap-requirements-analysis.png]] Use a mind map to collect or brainstorm data, to structure, sort out and prioritize tasks and project options. Some ideas captured on the mind map will be incomplete, so it’s worth further analysing the ideas identified. Below is an example mind map using iMindQ to document a domain. ![[mindmap-it-and-evernote-business.jpg]] Mind mapping has proved valuable in software development, where interviews with users and key players cover many cross-threads of information. It not only helps keep focus but provides numerous collection points for similar themes, retaining the essence of what is discussed. You can generate a text summary directly from notes taken in this way using iMindmap and iMindQ. ## A Mind Map to Model Strategy A mind map can be a very useful business management tool to help identify subjects to develop. ![[mindmap-of-managing-priorities.png]] iMindQ can transform a mind map into a schedule: ![[mindmap-project-wbs-in-imindq.png]] Mind mapping can form part of the project management cycle: ![[mindmap-analyse-transform-repeat.png]] ## Example of a vertical mind map Mind mapping also taps into how we think and how we react with and perceive the world, a favourite subject for those who model human behaviour. ![[mindmap-uses-of-evernote.jpg]] And like Jung, who didn’t believe in psychology alone, there must be more to it than that. ## Concept maps v mind maps Use a concept map if there are several themes on the same level or if you aren’t sure what the central theme is. You can break down individual items into hierarchical structures, but many will remain on the same level. A concept map, such as the one below, doesn’t necessarily have one central theme, and simply maps connected themes. ![[mindmap-internet-site-plan.jpg]] ## Reference For reference, see the work by the original inventor [Mindmapping by Tony Buzan.](https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/9780563520344?gC=5a105e8b&gclid=Cj0KCQiApbzhBRDKARIsAIvZue9hZVz8pFP0t1jnHos_KBs-Q1LWLrsNay1gBm3fojZurWvfT5xpV7EaArehEALw_wcB) ## Mind mapping Software There is a long [[List of useful mind mapping software]] but we particularly like [Simplemind](https://simplemind.eu/), [Ayoa](https://ayoa.com), and [iMindq,](https://www.imindq.com/) which also allow you to transform a mind map into tasks. ### Mind mapping in Simplemind This video starts with a paper mind map of a plan to create videos for this site, and converts it into Simplemind. The second video then converts this Simplemind mind map into Obsidian.  ### Mind Mapping in Obsidian You can also create a mind map in Obsidian. [This video](https://youtu.be/7_Uq3_J66-A) looks at how to create a mind map in Obsidian using the Mind Map plugin by James Lynch. It shows how you can create a mind map in a note, as you add headings and subheadings and list items.  In this video [reposted here on Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/ObsidianMD/comments/1h2k7sm/how_to_create_a_mindmap_in_obsidian/), we structure in Obsidian a mind map previously created on paper and in SimpleMind. ![[Video Plan.png]] You can then copy the Obsidian mind map as a screenshot. You then have a mind map and an Obsidian document with all the required headings. ![[mindmap-in-obsidian.png]] ## In summary Mind mapping is a versatile tool used in brainstorming, note taking, essay planning, problem-solving, and business analysis. It enables users to organize information visually related to a central theme, and helps clarify thoughts, enhance memory, and make connections between ideas. This non-linear, web-like structure mimics how the brain processes information, making it ideal for exploring complex concepts and generating creative solutions. The process involves a free-form ‘mind dump’, followed by the organization and analysis of ideas. In various professional contexts, such as meetings, project management, and systems modelling, mind mapping proves valuable by helping users capture and prioritize key points efficiently. With the aid of mind mapping software, users can easily rearrange ideas, create visual structures, and even transform these into actionable tasks or project plans. The flexibility of mind mapping makes it an effective tool for summarizing information, structuring projects, and solving problems.