Reflection – Mind Mapping

Challenge

I'm working in the training center of a large financial corporation. The training unit is  responsible for over 9,000 workers training and development. One of our challenges  is to use wisely and effectively the training budget and resources. Another challenge  is to maintain our professional abilities and therefore enable every worker in the  organization to participate in a training activity at list one day per year. Lately we  have found out that we achieved only part of this target. Some of our workers got 3- 4 training days per year while other workers didn't learn at all.

We understood we have a problem in our training data analysis process and  implementation.  We had to make some changes in our training data analysis in  order to rearrange the distribution of learning resources. We decided to do a mind  mapping process.

Selection

Mind mapping is looking for patterns and insights in a large quantity data. The goal  of mind mapping is to extract meaning from data in a way that let patterns and  insights to immerge. We wanted to understand what is the current situation, why  our present tools doesn't work as we expected and what we should do in order to  improve. Our clients were the management board, workers, human resource units  and managers at the training center. We used the metaphor of Leidteka and Ogilvie  of yard sale, and tried to follow the mind mapping process.

Application

For our mind mapping process we started by mapping of all our customers, tools,  reports and available data on training activities in the organization. We collected  available information concerning training activities and data. We also interviewed  people in the organization who are expert in data analysis and interviewed  managers, trainers and local human resource units. We tried to understand what are  our customers expect to get and understand from our data analysis. From the new  information occurred new patterns and perspectives we were not aware to, before  we started this process. After gathering all the information we started to organize it  first by formulate basic categorization and sorting the information. On the second  phase of the process we invited 10 of our main clients for a one day session. We  prepared a big gallery with the information we gathered and presented maim  categories and topics that we have revealed from the first stage of analysis.

After walking around the gallery and take notes we set in little groups and discussed  the findings, insights and ideas. On the last part of the session we gathered back and  presented the notes, insights and solutions.

Insight

By applying the mind mapping tool we got new perspectives and understanding of  our challenges. The insights we got helped us to focus on the main steps we have to  take in order to start changing the situation. In this process we received insights  concerning our data analysis tools and how to improve them, how to meet our  customers' expectations from our training data, improving our tracking methods,  what are the role of our partners and colleagues in using and implementing data  conclusions, and how to empower our self and our clients in using more effectively  analysis tools and conclusions from data analysis.

Approach

Using the mind mapping tool helped us a lot in researching and understanding our  challenges. It contributed to our thinking process of how to improve the situation.  The opportunity to analyze the problem based on diverse resources, meeting  different stake holders and searching forms ( such as data, reports, interviews and  etc.) enlarge our ability to achieve new understandings and define new work plan. It  was important that many people took part in the process and shared their views and  knowledge.  This process will also contribute to their understanding and engagement  in the training data analysis and implementation in the future. The most important  thing for me the next time I will use mind mapping tool is to remember how vital is  to involve all the relevant stake holders including the opponents and senior decisions  makers.


Reflection – Mind Mapping Challenge I 'm working in the training center of a large financial corporation . The training unit is responsible for over 9,000 workers training and development . One of our challenges is to use wisely and effectively the training budget and resources . Another challenge is to maintain our professional abilities and therefore enable every worker in the organization to participate in a training activity at list one day per year . Lately we have found out that we achieved only part of this target . Some of our workers got 3- 4 training days per year while other workers did n't learn at all . We understood we have a problem in our training data analysis process and implementation . We had to make some changes in our training data analysis in order to rearrange the distribution of learning resources . We decided to do a mind mapping process . Selection Mind mapping is looking for patterns and insights in a large quantity data . The goal of mind mapping is to extract meaning from data in a way that let patterns and insights to immerge . We wanted to understand what is the current situation , why our present tools does n't work as we expected and what we should do in order to improve . Our clients were the management board , workers , human resource units and managers at the training center . We used the metaphor of Leidteka and Ogilvie of yard sale , and tried to follow the mind mapping process . Application For our mind mapping process we started by mapping of all our customers , tools , reports and available data on training activities in the organization . We collected available information concerning training activities and data . We also interviewed people in the organization who are expert in data analysis and interviewed managers , trainers and local human resource units . We tried to understand what are our customers expect to get and understand from our data analysis . From the new information occurred new patterns and perspectives we were not aware to , before we started this process . After gathering all the information we started to organize it first by formulate basic categorization and sorting the information . On the second phase of the process we invited 10 of our main clients for a one day session . We prepared a big gallery with the information we gathered and presented maim categories and topics that we have revealed from the first stage of analysis . After walking around the gallery and take notes we set in little groups and discussed the findings , insights and ideas . On the last part of the session we gathered back and presented the notes , insights and solutions . Insight By applying the mind mapping tool we got new perspectives and understanding of our challenges . The insights we got helped us to focus on the main steps we have to take in order to start changing the situation . In this process we received insights concerning our data analysis tools and how to improve them , how to meet our customers ' expectations from our training data , improving our tracking methods , what are the role of our partners and colleagues in using and implementing data conclusions , and how to empower our self and our clients in using more effectively analysis tools and conclusions from data analysis . Approach Using the mind mapping tool helped us a lot in researching and understanding our challenges . It contributed to our thinking process of how to improve the situation . The opportunity to analyze the problem based on diverse resources , meeting different stake holders and searching forms ( such as data , reports , interviews and etc . ) enlarge our ability to achieve new understandings and define new work plan . It was important that many people took part in the process and shared their views and knowledge . This process will also contribute to their understanding and engagement in the training data analysis and implementation in the future . The most important thing for me the next time I will use mind mapping tool is to remember how vital is to involve all the relevant stake holders including the opponents and senior decisions makers .