Reflection - Mind Mapping

Challenge  Being working in the training department in a construction company, I was assigned to  handle training project which is to teach interpersonal skills based on DISC behavior  profile (a very popular assessment tool) to 220 construction workers.     For the office staff, they will attend 3 hours training with mini lecture, assessment and  exercises. However, the construction workers are really “different” from office staff.  Technically, the construction workers can only allow lunch time (around 1 hour) to  attend training. Also, those construction workers were located in more than 10

different locations. It was difficult to gather them together. Our time constraint is to  complete the training project by end of December 2016.    Selection  I have selected mind mapping in the first phase of design thinking process because I  have evaluated the benefits of using it. First, mind mapping helps to discover the  patterns and insights in a large amount of ideas. Secondly, mind mapping is more  intuitive, creative and visual which is easier to simulate ideas. Moreover, the whole  team can participate in generating ideas in an equal way. Everyone has the chance to  voice out.

Application  I took the role as facilitator. Before I started the process, I announced different rules.

The core rule was to respect other ideas and not to judge the ideas during the  generating process. Also, I invited all the participants to give high-five to each  participant to show their willingness to follow the rules and to set an encouraging  atmosphere.    For the environment, I haven written the discussion topic on the white board and

prepared many sticky notes with different color and different shapes which already  helped to stimulate different ideas.    Then the sharing started. I invited everyone ready to start with the theme sharing his  or her sticky notes related to that theme. Then put these on the white board or  whatever so that the whole team can see them. I helped to the team member adding  their sticky notes that are related to that same or similar idea. The next team member  does the same. Then a second team member will suggest another theme, and so forth,

until all the sticky notes are on the white board. I wrote some statements on large

sticky notes and placed them on top of the appropriate sticky note group. Our  participants can associate the connections between different clusters.

For some ideas that I cannot be categorized or seem “not related or useful” , I stuck

the notes aside. They may work their way in later. Not to miss any potential ideas!

Insight  The biggest insight was the large amount of ideas. Out of our expectation, the ideas  were so all rounded. It was not just to tackle our challenge. We also collected ideas on

how to implement the training projects and also how to measure the effectiveness. It  enriched the depth of our project. It helped us to move one step forward to prepare  more comprehensive implementation plan. Another insight was the ideas (stick notes)  were organized with different category with heading or key sentence. All our ideas  were contributing a “big” picture. Every team have equal chance to voice out. A very  interactive way to exchange of ideas!    Approach  Mind mapping was a great tool to map the ideas from mind. It was simple and easy to  use. Every participant has the chance to present their ideas in a friendly and non-

judgmental environment. Every participant has tasted the benefits with huge amount  of ideas contributing to a big picture. Next time, I will recommend our participants to  the construction site to complete the empathy map (e.g. see, listen ….) so we  understood our targets more. I will expect more high-quality ideas. In short, mind

mapping is already a great tool to use. It is so powerful and flexible that it can be  combined with other tools to use together. I felt good to have more tools in my pocket.  Thank you!


Reflection - Mind Mapping Challenge Being working in the training department in a construction company , I was assigned to handle training project which is to teach interpersonal skills based on DISC behavior profile ( a very popular assessment tool ) to 220 construction workers . For the office staff , they will attend 3 hours training with mini lecture , assessment and exercises . However , the construction workers are really “ different ” from office staff . Technically , the construction workers can only allow lunch time ( around 1 hour ) to attend training . Also , those construction workers were located in more than 10 different locations . It was difficult to gather them together . Our time constraint is to complete the training project by end of December 2016 . Selection I have selected mind mapping in the first phase of design thinking process because I have evaluated the benefits of using it . First , mind mapping helps to discover the patterns and insights in a large amount of ideas . Secondly , mind mapping is more intuitive , creative and visual which is easier to simulate ideas . Moreover , the whole team can participate in generating ideas in an equal way . Everyone has the chance to voice out . Application I took the role as facilitator . Before I started the process , I announced different rules . The core rule was to respect other ideas and not to judge the ideas during the generating process . Also , I invited all the participants to give high - five to each participant to show their willingness to follow the rules and to set an encouraging atmosphere . For the environment , I haven written the discussion topic on the white board and prepared many sticky notes with different color and different shapes which already helped to stimulate different ideas . Then the sharing started . I invited everyone ready to start with the theme sharing his or her sticky notes related to that theme . Then put these on the white board or whatever so that the whole team can see them . I helped to the team member adding their sticky notes that are related to that same or similar idea . The next team member does the same . Then a second team member will suggest another theme , and so forth , until all the sticky notes are on the white board . I wrote some statements on large sticky notes and placed them on top of the appropriate sticky note group . Our participants can associate the connections between different clusters . For some ideas that I can not be categorized or seem “ not related or useful ” , I stuck the notes aside . They may work their way in later . Not to miss any potential ideas ! Insight The biggest insight was the large amount of ideas . Out of our expectation , the ideas were so all rounded . It was not just to tackle our challenge . We also collected ideas on how to implement the training projects and also how to measure the effectiveness . It enriched the depth of our project . It helped us to move one step forward to prepare more comprehensive implementation plan . Another insight was the ideas ( stick notes ) were organized with different category with heading or key sentence . All our ideas were contributing a “ big ” picture . Every team have equal chance to voice out . A very interactive way to exchange of ideas ! Approach Mind mapping was a great tool to map the ideas from mind . It was simple and easy to use . Every participant has the chance to present their ideas in a friendly and non- judgmental environment . Every participant has tasted the benefits with huge amount of ideas contributing to a big picture . Next time , I will recommend our participants to the construction site to complete the empathy map ( e.g. see , listen … . ) so we understood our targets more . I will expect more high - quality ideas . In short , mind mapping is already a great tool to use . It is so powerful and flexible that it can be combined with other tools to use together . I felt good to have more tools in my pocket . Thank you !