Reflection – Mind Mapping

Challenge

I am part of my corporation’s legal team, specializing in intellectual property, particularly in the field of  patents.  One of the main reasons why I was hired was to organize my company’s patent prosecution  process in an order to monetize on the patents that we hold by identifying patent applications that can  be used to expand my company’s patent footprint and create a niche spaces in which we hold patent  rights.  The patent prosecution process is a collaborative effort among several groups across different  offices around the world.  Research and development identifies a solution to a problem and ask the  intellectual property group to file an application on it.  However, oftentimes, we realize that these  applications are not as innovative as we originally thought and abandon them later down the road.  Our  goal is to identify ways to minimize costs of patent prosecution while maximizing profits.

Selection

I selected mind mapping as the tool to use to jumpstart resolving the problem.  Through mind mapping,  I hope to explore the patents and applications that we have already filed and those that have been  granted in order to establish a creative criterion of what if we start evaluating patent applications a  different way that can perhaps weed out the not so useful patents at an early stage instead of blindly  filing applications on every idea.

Application

I started the process by holding a yard sale if you will.  I gathered all the data on what patents have been  approved and which patent applications are currently pending and had them organized into  spreadsheets.  Once all that information was in one place, I asked a group of my coworkers to review  the information and write down which patents and application they thought our company either  monetized on or could monetize on.  In addition, I also ask them to note why they thought these patents  make financial sense for our company.  Afterwards, we group the different types of patents in clusters.   Some patents cover a process; others cover an actual physical item.

After clustering the patents into groups, we then discussed the notes that we took about why we  thought these particular patents would be or are profitable.  By discussing and observing our notes, we  would notice common patterns among the patents that would enable us to see connections among  them.  From there, we discussed what do these common patterns mean and what can we learn from  them and how we can use this newly obtained information to design a better patent prosecution  process.  Although, at the end of the exercise, we had not come up with a perfect solution, we walk  away with other possibilities and avenues that we can explore.  This is a long term project, but mind  mapping enabled us to jumpstart the process.

Insight and Approach

Mind mapping allowed my coworkers and me to come together and identify patterns and  commonalities that we were then able to mold into innovative solutions and possibilities that we can try  instead of sticking to status quo.  By gathering the data and information in one place, it also enabled us  to see the actuality of the problem.  There were a lot of patents and patent applications that were not  beneficial to the health of our company’s patent portfolio.  We were spending time and resources in  prosecuting these patents and applications and receiving minimum returns.  That was not as clear to  some of my coworkers until all the information about pending patent applications and patents were  compiled in one place and we were able to really study and think about them.  Although this is still a  working progress, the first step of having people recognize the problem was a crucial one.  Now  everyone is on the same page about finding a workable solution that would meet our goal of being able  to monetize on the patents that we file.

Mind mapping was very useful to gathering my coworkers together and allowing us to both think about  the problem individually and collectively.  This is my first time using the mind mapping approach.  In the  future, I think I would change a few things.  I would gather even more information and as much as  possible.  I think my compilation of information this time was still not enough to help my coworkers to  make the most informed decisions.  I think mind mapping works better when you are face to face with  your coworkers.  Unfortunately, due to being located in different offices throughout the world and the  pandemic, we were unable to meet face-to-face for this exercise, but I would like to try it with my  coworkers that are local when it is safe to do so.


Reflection – Mind Mapping Challenge I am part of my corporation ’s legal team , specializing in intellectual property , particularly in the field of patents . One of the main reasons why I was hired was to organize my company ’s patent prosecution process in an order to monetize on the patents that we hold by identifying patent applications that can be used to expand my company ’s patent footprint and create a niche spaces in which we hold patent rights . The patent prosecution process is a collaborative effort among several groups across different offices around the world . Research and development identifies a solution to a problem and ask the intellectual property group to file an application on it . However , oftentimes , we realize that these applications are not as innovative as we originally thought and abandon them later down the road . Our goal is to identify ways to minimize costs of patent prosecution while maximizing profits . Selection I selected mind mapping as the tool to use to jumpstart resolving the problem . Through mind mapping , I hope to explore the patents and applications that we have already filed and those that have been granted in order to establish a creative criterion of what if we start evaluating patent applications a different way that can perhaps weed out the not so useful patents at an early stage instead of blindly filing applications on every idea . Application I started the process by holding a yard sale if you will . I gathered all the data on what patents have been approved and which patent applications are currently pending and had them organized into spreadsheets . Once all that information was in one place , I asked a group of my coworkers to review the information and write down which patents and application they thought our company either monetized on or could monetize on . In addition , I also ask them to note why they thought these patents make financial sense for our company . Afterwards , we group the different types of patents in clusters . Some patents cover a process ; others cover an actual physical item . After clustering the patents into groups , we then discussed the notes that we took about why we thought these particular patents would be or are profitable . By discussing and observing our notes , we would notice common patterns among the patents that would enable us to see connections among them . From there , we discussed what do these common patterns mean and what can we learn from them and how we can use this newly obtained information to design a better patent prosecution process . Although , at the end of the exercise , we had not come up with a perfect solution , we walk away with other possibilities and avenues that we can explore . This is a long term project , but mind mapping enabled us to jumpstart the process . Insight and Approach Mind mapping allowed my coworkers and me to come together and identify patterns and commonalities that we were then able to mold into innovative solutions and possibilities that we can try instead of sticking to status quo . By gathering the data and information in one place , it also enabled us to see the actuality of the problem . There were a lot of patents and patent applications that were not beneficial to the health of our company ’s patent portfolio . We were spending time and resources in prosecuting these patents and applications and receiving minimum returns . That was not as clear to some of my coworkers until all the information about pending patent applications and patents were compiled in one place and we were able to really study and think about them . Although this is still a working progress , the first step of having people recognize the problem was a crucial one . Now everyone is on the same page about finding a workable solution that would meet our goal of being able to monetize on the patents that we file . Mind mapping was very useful to gathering my coworkers together and allowing us to both think about the problem individually and collectively . This is my first time using the mind mapping approach . In the future , I think I would change a few things . I would gather even more information and as much as possible . I think my compilation of information this time was still not enough to help my coworkers to make the most informed decisions . I think mind mapping works better when you are face to face with your coworkers . Unfortunately , due to being located in different offices throughout the world and the pandemic , we were unable to meet face - to - face for this exercise , but I would like to try it with my coworkers that are local when it is safe to do so .