Mind mapping – Digitalization process

Challenge:

I work in an organization that really needs to digitalize all the procedures, but there

are so many areas and procedures involved that it is very difficult to implement.

Nowadays, some procedures are digitalized, but others must be digitalized as soon

as possible. We have to recognize the sectors involved as well as the procedures,

the people in charge and the tasks in this process. To define the scope and the

relationships between these elements, I have used Mind Mapping.

Selection:

I think that Mind Mapping is a very useful tool to looks for patterns and insights in a

large quantity of data collected. This tool is an engaging alternative to that giant

report we might otherwise have written to sum up and communicate in prose, and

charts, and spreadsheets. Moreover, we will need to create some procedures, so

for a more creative solution I think that Mind Mapping is an excellent technique.

Application:

In discussing the digital transformation of the organization, I have met the 4 chiefs

in related areas and 12 colleagues to recognize the procedures, the people in

charge and the tasks involved, and how they are connected to each other, what

they have done so far and how the digitalization process could be improved. We

have been divided into groups of 4 participants, and each group have written down

the procedures, the people in charge and the tasks involved for the digitalization

process. After an hour, this session has triggered lots of ideas. Each group has

reported to the others, and their answers have been shared to record

commonalities in the insights of each group, and then additional insights that come

from the group discussion.

Insight & Approach:

We could identify useful insights. We widen our perspective of the procedures, the

people in charge and the tasks involved in the process of digitalization. We could

learn that some areas are overwhelmed of activities, and cannot deliver tasks on

time. That situation delays the activities of other areas involved. It is important to

plan several regular tasks and save time for big processes as the digital

transformation of the company. After this experience, I realize that mind mapping is

a very creative and visual tool, and it is, also, more engaging.

Since I discovered that the most valuable aspect is the shared insights and

learning, next time I would use this technique as a starting point for a series of

design thinking activities.

