Example Reflection - Developing software - Mind mapping

Challenge

Some time ago, as a project manager I had a meeting with a company. a few managers and many ideas  flying around the room. Their direct competitor had recently released a new software application. At the  time of the launch, the competitor was far ahead in terms of user experience. Moreover, they had an  excellent mobile app. The company wanted to go out with something new on the market, to avoid losing  ground to their competitor.

They prepared a document with some requirements, a vague idea of what the product should look like,  and how much should it cost. “We have to follow what others have done, with a lower price,” the financial  Director said. “We have to create a more usable system, which simplifies the user journey,” added another  manager. “We have to change the way we collect information” said another. “It will take us months,” the  Marketing manager said.

This software managed different departments and channels (email to SMS) and it was created for the web  and mobile platforms. The product was originally created a few years before, but its usability was poor.  The meeting described above and the following ones did not lead to a clear definition of what the product  to be achieved actually was. We only knew that we had to hit the target as soon as possible.

Company was a traditional process driven company. It hasn’t run agile projects in the past, and it was new  to the idea of creating and testing it on the market for them. More notably, they feared the unknown.

Selection

We decided to use the Design Thinking process and focus on the things that would really bring value to  the end user and thus, beat the competition by bringing only what’s necessary to the customer. So, we  ready to try mind mapping tool that enables create visual diagram of our ideas.

Application

We then engaged in building a mind map, which allowed us to categorize the process of users, mapping  up to themes. For each of the personas, we defined the set of activities, stories, and tasks that we assumed  they must complete during the journey. In doing so, we could quickly test our idea and understand if it  met the core needs. If it did, we could bring it into the market faster.

Insight

By applying the mind mapping tool, diagram allow to explore all of the functions on visual level at once.  As a project manager, I can make the project name as the center node and add deliverables and tasks as  children to create a terrific overall picture.

Approach

The next time I would use mind mapping tool as a starting point. Because the team was able to proceed  in a fast pace since the very beginning of the implementation, thanks to a clear vision created by mind  mapping, and by the method we follow which enabled the team to stay on track.


Example Reflection - Developing software - Mind mapping Challenge Some time ago , as a project manager I had a meeting with a company . a few managers and many ideas flying around the room . Their direct competitor had recently released a new software application . At the time of the launch , the competitor was far ahead in terms of user experience . Moreover , they had an excellent mobile app . The company wanted to go out with something new on the market , to avoid losing ground to their competitor . They prepared a document with some requirements , a vague idea of what the product should look like , and how much should it cost . “ We have to follow what others have done , with a lower price , ” the financial Director said . “ We have to create a more usable system , which simplifies the user journey , ” added another manager . “ We have to change the way we collect information ” said another . “ It will take us months , ” the Marketing manager said . This software managed different departments and channels ( email to SMS ) and it was created for the web and mobile platforms . The product was originally created a few years before , but its usability was poor . The meeting described above and the following ones did not lead to a clear definition of what the product to be achieved actually was . We only knew that we had to hit the target as soon as possible . Company was a traditional process driven company . It has n’t run agile projects in the past , and it was new to the idea of creating and testing it on the market for them . More notably , they feared the unknown . Selection We decided to use the Design Thinking process and focus on the things that would really bring value to the end user and thus , beat the competition by bringing only what ’s necessary to the customer . So , we ready to try mind mapping tool that enables create visual diagram of our ideas . Application We then engaged in building a mind map , which allowed us to categorize the process of users , mapping up to themes . For each of the personas , we defined the set of activities , stories , and tasks that we assumed they must complete during the journey . In doing so , we could quickly test our idea and understand if it met the core needs . If it did , we could bring it into the market faster . Insight By applying the mind mapping tool , diagram allow to explore all of the functions on visual level at once . As a project manager , I can make the project name as the center node and add deliverables and tasks as children to create a terrific overall picture . Approach The next time I would use mind mapping tool as a starting point . Because the team was able to proceed in a fast pace since the very beginning of the implementation , thanks to a clear vision created by mind mapping , and by the method we follow which enabled the team to stay on track .