Reflection – Mind Mapping

Challenge & Selection

As I started this Design for Business Innovation course, I was immediately drawn to the messages in the  Physics of Innovation lecture.  As part of an applied innovation unit in my organisation that belongs to a  larger organisation, the challenges outlined in this lecture about the mindset for stability/execution  versus the mindset for innovation were something that really resonated with me.  It caused me to  question; Are we set up for success in our Innovation unit, how do other parts of the organisation see us  depending on their mind-set, and how is this impacting us?.   I felt it was essential to unpack/share with  leadership in my area – to allow an introspection of our current state and whether it caused us to  pivot/make any changes going forward.

Although this was not a project where I had planned to use design thinking – I felt that there were things  as an innovation group we perhaps “didn’t know what we didn’t know”.   I also felt there was a need to  really quantify insights/findings from the course learnings to take forward with leadership – therefore I  started using the data & learnings from the course as the input to challenge our current setup and really  look at how prepared we are for innovation, and ultimately allow this to drive introspection on our  What is, and then progress through the remaining stages.

As I progressed through the course I was conscious that I wanted to glean further insights, that could  also be considered by a wider group.  The course highlighted Mind Mapping as a very useful technique  used to consolidated results of the What is stage and allow findings/insights/themes to emerge.  As I  learned further on the Design for Innovation course - Mind mapping is an effective way of both  capturing and organising large and complex pieces of knowledge. It’s a powerful tool used to distil data  into information and insights that can be easily communicated and inform the What if stage of design  thinking.  Full details of using Mind Mapping for this purpose are described in the lecture:  https://www.coursera.org/learn/uva-darden-design-thinking-innovation/lecture/lsFRa/mind-mapping- tool and further information here: https://ideas.darden.virginia.edu/10-design-thinking-tools-turn- creativity-and-data-into-growth

I’d had some exposure to the use of Mind Mapping for other purposes like Impact Mapping and found it  to be very effective, therefore I chose the Mind Mapping technique outlined in this lecture to help frame  a picture of the learnings/key insights from this course to take forward in discovery with the wider  group.

Application

As I worked through the course I noted key learnings, knowledge, information from each week, and  insights that I knew would be useful to unpack later.

I used the xMind tool (see: http://www.johnson.com/categories/wp-content/tagabout.html) – a really good tool I’d had exposure to previously  – that allows you build up the Mind Map online.   Taking each part of the learnings, I grouped them into  the central topic, sub-topics, drawing out the insights, and sub-layers of information.  I flagged the areas  on the mind map (using ‘flag’ indicators) where there were real insights/findings relative to our  situation.  I also flagged areas where it was appropriate to disseminate a supporting visual, or reference  detailed supporting information.  Additionally, I flagged key findings by theme, to highlight some  recommendations.

Alongside the Mind Map, I created a summary view of the themed findings/insights – with associated  questions for introspection that would provide input to a sharing workshop session with leadership to  spark conversation into our real ‘What is’ and ultimately uncover more ‘What is’ information.

For the sharing workshop session, I setup the room with visuals including the Mind Map in large printed  view, and other key visuals that supported the findings/insights and used the space to disseminate the  information, allowing participants to interact with the visuals at key points in the story telling  walkthrough, to validate findings, co-create more findings and gain alignment on our ‘What is’.

I designed the session to step through the key themes in the Mind Map – telling the story, imparting  learning/knowledge, posing a question and answer, and allowing participants introspect on that  question and answer and co-create further – offering up more information to develop the current  picture relative to the insights/findings.  The workshop was designed to be interactive as we unpacked  the Mind Map insights together.

Insight & Approach

In terms of insights, it’s amazing to use a technique like Mind Mapping to distil a large volume of  information into something palatable that allows insights to emerge, but it’s also an extremely powerful  way of learning and staying “in the question” long enough to gain greater understanding.  The visual  aspect the Mind Map provided was an impactful way to theme and distil the information and allow  participants to interact with the map and the key messages - evidenced by their questions, and further  post-it notes on pain points/challenges.

My own question generated from that early lecture in Week 2 – the Physics of Innovation was: Are we  set up for success in our Innovation Unit, how do other parts of the organisation see us depending on  their mind-set, and how is this impacting us?  This allowed us to completely unpack the insights distilled  into the Mind Map additionally complimented by other techniques (discussed in the approach below).

I realised that in the full sense of design thinking I was largely working on my own for this initial stage.  However, I used this approach and the Mind Mapping technique with its resulting insights as the catalyst  to bring new knowledge and learning to leadership and springboard into a fuller design thinking ‘What  is’ stage.  What I was uncovering through this mechanism sparked the same thoughts in others in the  group and allowed learning and a recognition of mis-aligned mind-sets. Often, we are experiencing  symptoms of a problem we don’t yet have the knowledge to recognise or name!  In this case the  learning from the Physics of Innovation lecture was the knowledge that was needed alongside the  subsequent lectures on having a prepared mind.

As a result of the above, the insights & findings were further co-created by the group and others and this  ultimately allowed us to move to a ‘What if’ stage – applying the design thinking process to our  approach to innovation in our unit.  We settled on some early recommendations that would inform our  What if stage in terms of education, prepared minds, formalising our innovation practices, and clarifying  the difference in our work, to that of other parts of the organisation.

There will be more to come on this as we move through the remaining design thinking stages, but the  course, and the technique of Mind Mapping has greatly helped in distilling this knowledge and allowed  us ‘hold up a mirror’ to our ‘What is’ to recognise and address the challenges we face innovating in a  large organisation.

As a final insight, use several techniques to complement each other, validate your approach and cater  for diversity in the way people process information (further information below)

In terms of approach, I employed some other techniques alongside Mind Mapping as follows:

For example, traditional methods like writing notes, tables of information, prioritised items, key findings,  and recommendations, and generating a PowerPoint presentation.  I was aware I would have diversity in  the group in the way they took on information and processed it, therefore I wanted to cater for this, but  also to use the alternative approach as a validation for myself in preparation for the Sharing Workshop.

I wanted to keep this presentation very short – to really allow me “tell the story” in an impactful way –  bringing the attendees to different visual stations in the room as the story unfolded and allowing them  to interact with the material and give their feedback.  I took time in the story telling to ask questions,  and pose an answer, which I then invited the group to introspect upon.

I believe no one technique is going to suffice completely, the act of Mind Mapping was essential to  visualise the insights & themes emerging, but equally the distilling of the message into a short  PowerPoint – used alongside the visual stations in the room allowed the technique of “Story Telling” to  really have an impact on the participants.  It is vital to consider your audience and cater for how people  like to take on information, visual and otherwise.


Reflection – Mind Mapping Challenge & Selection As I started this Design for Business Innovation course , I was immediately drawn to the messages in the Physics of Innovation lecture . As part of an applied innovation unit in my organisation that belongs to a larger organisation , the challenges outlined in this lecture about the mindset for stability / execution versus the mindset for innovation were something that really resonated with me . It caused me to question ; Are we set up for success in our Innovation unit , how do other parts of the organisation see us depending on their mind - set , and how is this impacting us ? . I felt it was essential to unpack / share with leadership in my area – to allow an introspection of our current state and whether it caused us to pivot / make any changes going forward . Although this was not a project where I had planned to use design thinking – I felt that there were things as an innovation group we perhaps “ did n’t know what we did n’t know ” . I also felt there was a need to really quantify insights / findings from the course learnings to take forward with leadership – therefore I started using the data & learnings from the course as the input to challenge our current setup and really look at how prepared we are for innovation , and ultimately allow this to drive introspection on our What is , and then progress through the remaining stages . As I progressed through the course I was conscious that I wanted to glean further insights , that could also be considered by a wider group . The course highlighted Mind Mapping as a very useful technique used to consolidated results of the What is stage and allow findings / insights / themes to emerge . As I learned further on the Design for Innovation course - Mind mapping is an effective way of both capturing and organising large and complex pieces of knowledge . It ’s a powerful tool used to distil data into information and insights that can be easily communicated and inform the What if stage of design thinking . Full details of using Mind Mapping for this purpose are described in the lecture : https://www.coursera.org/learn/uva-darden-design-thinking-innovation/lecture/lsFRa/mind-mapping- tool and further information here : https://ideas.darden.virginia.edu/10-design-thinking-tools-turn- creativity - and - data - into - growth I ’d had some exposure to the use of Mind Mapping for other purposes like Impact Mapping and found it to be very effective , therefore I chose the Mind Mapping technique outlined in this lecture to help frame a picture of the learnings / key insights from this course to take forward in discovery with the wider group . Application As I worked through the course I noted key learnings , knowledge , information from each week , and insights that I knew would be useful to unpack later . I used the xMind tool ( see : http://www.johnson.com/categories/wp-content/tagabout.html ) – a really good tool I ’d had exposure to previously – that allows you build up the Mind Map online . Taking each part of the learnings , I grouped them into the central topic , sub - topics , drawing out the insights , and sub - layers of information . I flagged the areas on the mind map ( using ‘ flag ’ indicators ) where there were real insights / findings relative to our situation . I also flagged areas where it was appropriate to disseminate a supporting visual , or reference detailed supporting information . Additionally , I flagged key findings by theme , to highlight some recommendations . Alongside the Mind Map , I created a summary view of the themed findings / insights – with associated questions for introspection that would provide input to a sharing workshop session with leadership to spark conversation into our real ‘ What is ’ and ultimately uncover more ‘ What is ’ information . For the sharing workshop session , I setup the room with visuals including the Mind Map in large printed view , and other key visuals that supported the findings / insights and used the space to disseminate the information , allowing participants to interact with the visuals at key points in the story telling walkthrough , to validate findings , co - create more findings and gain alignment on our ‘ What is ’ . I designed the session to step through the key themes in the Mind Map – telling the story , imparting learning / knowledge , posing a question and answer , and allowing participants introspect on that question and answer and co - create further – offering up more information to develop the current picture relative to the insights / findings . The workshop was designed to be interactive as we unpacked the Mind Map insights together . Insight & Approach In terms of insights , it ’s amazing to use a technique like Mind Mapping to distil a large volume of information into something palatable that allows insights to emerge , but it ’s also an extremely powerful way of learning and staying “ in the question ” long enough to gain greater understanding . The visual aspect the Mind Map provided was an impactful way to theme and distil the information and allow participants to interact with the map and the key messages - evidenced by their questions , and further post - it notes on pain points / challenges . My own question generated from that early lecture in Week 2 – the Physics of Innovation was : Are we set up for success in our Innovation Unit , how do other parts of the organisation see us depending on their mind - set , and how is this impacting us ? This allowed us to completely unpack the insights distilled into the Mind Map additionally complimented by other techniques ( discussed in the approach below ) . I realised that in the full sense of design thinking I was largely working on my own for this initial stage . However , I used this approach and the Mind Mapping technique with its resulting insights as the catalyst to bring new knowledge and learning to leadership and springboard into a fuller design thinking ‘ What is ’ stage . What I was uncovering through this mechanism sparked the same thoughts in others in the group and allowed learning and a recognition of mis - aligned mind - sets . Often , we are experiencing symptoms of a problem we do n’t yet have the knowledge to recognise or name ! In this case the learning from the Physics of Innovation lecture was the knowledge that was needed alongside the subsequent lectures on having a prepared mind . As a result of the above , the insights & findings were further co - created by the group and others and this ultimately allowed us to move to a ‘ What if ’ stage – applying the design thinking process to our approach to innovation in our unit . We settled on some early recommendations that would inform our What if stage in terms of education , prepared minds , formalising our innovation practices , and clarifying the difference in our work , to that of other parts of the organisation . There will be more to come on this as we move through the remaining design thinking stages , but the course , and the technique of Mind Mapping has greatly helped in distilling this knowledge and allowed us ‘ hold up a mirror ’ to our ‘ What is ’ to recognise and address the challenges we face innovating in a large organisation . As a final insight , use several techniques to complement each other , validate your approach and cater for diversity in the way people process information ( further information below ) In terms of approach , I employed some other techniques alongside Mind Mapping as follows : For example , traditional methods like writing notes , tables of information , prioritised items , key findings , and recommendations , and generating a PowerPoint presentation . I was aware I would have diversity in the group in the way they took on information and processed it , therefore I wanted to cater for this , but also to use the alternative approach as a validation for myself in preparation for the Sharing Workshop . I wanted to keep this presentation very short – to really allow me “ tell the story ” in an impactful way – bringing the attendees to different visual stations in the room as the story unfolded and allowing them to interact with the material and give their feedback . I took time in the story telling to ask questions , and pose an answer , which I then invited the group to introspect upon . I believe no one technique is going to suffice completely , the act of Mind Mapping was essential to visualise the insights & themes emerging , but equally the distilling of the message into a short PowerPoint – used alongside the visual stations in the room allowed the technique of “ Story Telling ” to really have an impact on the participants . It is vital to consider your audience and cater for how people like to take on information , visual and otherwise .