MIND MAPPING IN A FAMILY BUSINESS BY Lavinia Mossad

Challenge

The challenge I chose is about taking a decision with a family business in Mexico.

The family had three gas stations for more than 30 years, it was a family business created

with a lot of work, effort and sacrifices. These gas stations were in two different and small

towns, in the north of Mexico. The challenge starts at the moment that the owner (my father)

had to take a decision about the business considering:

● The age (of the owner)

● Economic situation of the country

● Looking for  stability

Selection

The tool I selected was Mind Mapping tool, because it is a way to integrate the family

member to a decision, and a good way to visualize through participation. The family is

conformed by wife, and three daughters, and the main owner.

Application

We followed the steps of Mind Mapping by:

● Hold a yard sale: We posted financial information, opinion about employees and

comments about the member of the family in a room.

● Invite shoppers: The “Shoppers” were the family members and very near family

friends.

● Offer tours: We asked them to walk around and look around the information posted in

the room.

● Pick out the good stuff: we solicited the people considered as shoppers to take

share and give any advice and ideas that would help to make a good decision for the

family.

● In teams, attendees share their “good stuff” and then cluster the good stuff and

identify the insights related to each cluster and look for connections between

clusters: We made three teams, these were made with family and non-family

members, they have to talk about the ideas, presenting the ideas in order (starting

with team one) and posting them on a big table. In such a way, that the nex team

finds similarities between its ideas and the others´s ideas, and complements the

ideas.

● Translate the insights into design criteria: In this step we find out a lot of information

that was considered important from different points of view. For example remodel the

gas station with a different brand and infrastructure, rent the business or sell the

business. Having a decision to rent the business for a period of 10 years.

Insight

The vision or insight we had was about considering the stability and mental health of

the family. Renting whas the best option, considering a good way to continue being the

owner, but not having the responsibility of the attendance of the business. The opinion from

people internal and external of the family helped to think differently, objectively and not just

emotional about the decision.

Approach

If we had the opportunity to do the process again I will choose the same tool, if I

had to change something about it would be the offer to participate as a shopper, a

supplier and employees, because they are part of the organization and also could have

good contributions.


MIND MAPPING IN A FAMILY BUSINESS BY Lavinia Mossad Challenge The challenge I chose is about taking a decision with a family business in Mexico . The family had three gas stations for more than 30 years , it was a family business created with a lot of work , effort and sacrifices . These gas stations were in two different and small towns , in the north of Mexico . The challenge starts at the moment that the owner ( my father ) had to take a decision about the business considering : ● The age ( of the owner ) ● Economic situation of the country ● Looking for stability Selection The tool I selected was Mind Mapping tool , because it is a way to integrate the family member to a decision , and a good way to visualize through participation . The family is conformed by wife , and three daughters , and the main owner . Application We followed the steps of Mind Mapping by : ● Hold a yard sale : We posted financial information , opinion about employees and comments about the member of the family in a room . ● Invite shoppers : The “ Shoppers ” were the family members and very near family friends . ● Offer tours : We asked them to walk around and look around the information posted in the room . ● Pick out the good stuff : we solicited the people considered as shoppers to take share and give any advice and ideas that would help to make a good decision for the family . ● In teams , attendees share their “ good stuff ” and then cluster the good stuff and identify the insights related to each cluster and look for connections between clusters : We made three teams , these were made with family and non - family members , they have to talk about the ideas , presenting the ideas in order ( starting with team one ) and posting them on a big table . In such a way , that the nex team finds similarities between its ideas and the others´s ideas , and complements the ideas . ● Translate the insights into design criteria : In this step we find out a lot of information that was considered important from different points of view . For example remodel the gas station with a different brand and infrastructure , rent the business or sell the business . Having a decision to rent the business for a period of 10 years . Insight The vision or insight we had was about considering the stability and mental health of the family . Renting whas the best option , considering a good way to continue being the owner , but not having the responsibility of the attendance of the business . The opinion from people internal and external of the family helped to think differently , objectively and not just emotional about the decision . Approach If we had the opportunity to do the process again I will choose the same tool , if I had to change something about it would be the offer to participate as a shopper , a supplier and employees , because they are part of the organization and also could have good contributions .