Design Thinking for Innovation- Mind Mapping

Challenge-  Mind mapping is an interesting tool that helps me to represent my ideas and plan  systematically before work. Since it is a group activity it also helps me to improve  my relations and understanding with my colleagues in college. I am a part of a  team that manufactures an All-terrain vehicle. We participate in a national level  competition which is organized for undergraduate students. In 2017 our team  stood 12th in our country and now we have started preparation for 2014  competition. Before starting the design of our new vehicle, I suggested my team- mates to use the mind-mapping tool. We all arranged an online meeting during  this lockdown. Our competition has various sub-categories like design, sales,  cost, technical inspection and dynamics, and sub-systems like transmission,  suspension, steering, brakes, chassis, and DAQ. Our challenge was to identify our  shortcomings during last year and come up with out of the box thinking. I  suggested my team-mates use this tool so that we can identify in which sub- category we need to put more effort, proper distribution of man-power, and much  more. The linking tool of mind-mapping helped us identify which task to do first  and which later.    Selection-  Up till 2017, our team had sub-systems. We divided our team into sub-systems  and all system members took appropriate decisions about their work and all the  system leads reported their plan to the captain. This is also a good approach where  a proper division of labor is followed but there is less interaction with others and  less scope for creativity and imagination. So, we followed the mind-mapping  technique where all 40 team members sat together and shared their views in all  aspects. It also helped everyone to know about each other’s work and help them  progress with everyone’s ideas.       Application-  As I discussed before we had an online meet during this lockdown before we  could get distributed in systems. We chose a topic one by one. For example,  design. A number of ideas came up under “design” like four-wheel drive or rear- wheel drive, suspension geometry, brake biasing, bracket design for system  integration, validation setups, etc. I noted down all ideas under design.  Subsequently, we went on to other challenges that we faced in various events of  sales, cost, technical inspection, and dynamics. After that, we linked all ideas with  arrows indicating the order of completion.

Insight-  As discussed above, the ordinary method of working like every year in the  “Selection” part, I was restricted only to my system ideas of chassis. But this  mind mapping helped me to understand other systems too. I was also delighted  to give my ideas to the cost team. This activity helped me to develop an  interdisciplinary approach and creativity.

Approach-  Mind-mapping is a tool that helps to explore ideas and represent them on board.  It was definitely a good activity to improve team-bonding. I hope that the ideas  we shared and planning we did using design thinking tools helps my team achieve  a better rank in the 2014 competition. If I am asked of using another design  thinking tool I will use “Story-telling”. I will use this tool to tell the stories of the  hardworking team members who have completed their graduation and left the  team. Telling the stories of their hard work and sacrifice to the new recruit  members will help them to inculcate discipline in their work.

Neha Singh


Design Thinking for Innovation- Mind Mapping Challenge- Mind mapping is an interesting tool that helps me to represent my ideas and plan systematically before work . Since it is a group activity it also helps me to improve my relations and understanding with my colleagues in college . I am a part of a team that manufactures an All - terrain vehicle . We participate in a national level competition which is organized for undergraduate students . In 2017 our team stood 12th in our country and now we have started preparation for 2014 competition . Before starting the design of our new vehicle , I suggested my team- mates to use the mind - mapping tool . We all arranged an online meeting during this lockdown . Our competition has various sub - categories like design , sales , cost , technical inspection and dynamics , and sub - systems like transmission , suspension , steering , brakes , chassis , and DAQ . Our challenge was to identify our shortcomings during last year and come up with out of the box thinking . I suggested my team - mates use this tool so that we can identify in which sub- category we need to put more effort , proper distribution of man - power , and much more . The linking tool of mind - mapping helped us identify which task to do first and which later . Selection- Up till 2017 , our team had sub - systems . We divided our team into sub - systems and all system members took appropriate decisions about their work and all the system leads reported their plan to the captain . This is also a good approach where a proper division of labor is followed but there is less interaction with others and less scope for creativity and imagination . So , we followed the mind - mapping technique where all 40 team members sat together and shared their views in all aspects . It also helped everyone to know about each other ’s work and help them progress with everyone ’s ideas . Application- As I discussed before we had an online meet during this lockdown before we could get distributed in systems . We chose a topic one by one . For example , design . A number of ideas came up under “ design ” like four - wheel drive or rear- wheel drive , suspension geometry , brake biasing , bracket design for system integration , validation setups , etc . I noted down all ideas under design . Subsequently , we went on to other challenges that we faced in various events of sales , cost , technical inspection , and dynamics . After that , we linked all ideas with arrows indicating the order of completion . Insight- As discussed above , the ordinary method of working like every year in the “ Selection ” part , I was restricted only to my system ideas of chassis . But this mind mapping helped me to understand other systems too . I was also delighted to give my ideas to the cost team . This activity helped me to develop an interdisciplinary approach and creativity . Approach- Mind - mapping is a tool that helps to explore ideas and represent them on board . It was definitely a good activity to improve team - bonding . I hope that the ideas we shared and planning we did using design thinking tools helps my team achieve a better rank in the 2014 competition . If I am asked of using another design thinking tool I will use “ Story - telling ” . I will use this tool to tell the stories of the hardworking team members who have completed their graduation and left the team . Telling the stories of their hard work and sacrifice to the new recruit members will help them to inculcate discipline in their work . Neha Singh