Mind Mapping

Challenge and selection

Mind mapping is a very powerful tool that I constantly use in my line of work, I am constantly

using data to solve problems. The line of work in which I solve problems is data science, some of

the problems relate to problems of demand forecasting, correlations and such. Sometimes finding

accurate solutions is very complicated. Using the large amounts of data sometimes is very

complicated, but if you start looking for patterns and insights, you can often come up with good

criteria for the next step of solving the problem. Mind mapping is a tool to look for patterns and

insights. Patterns and insights that will generate more creative solutions to design challenges,

after completing the what is mind mapping will create criteria for the what if phase.

Application

Often, I have been stumped when looking at large amounts of data one example would be the

time I was working for this client and he handed me a data set containing more then 300 columns

and 1 million lines of data per column. The outcome for the client was finding the best way of

generating sells. But looking at the data set I was going nowhere so I used mind mapping.

I used a piece of paper and wrote down the names of the columns (variable name), then I placed

1 if I believed the variable was useful and 0 if didn’t believe it was useful. I had successfully

reduced the list to around 150 variables which was still too many to generate a good solution.

Then with a couple of data handling I looked for data that had blanks and if the data had blanks, I

marked a 0 if it didn’t, I marked 1 which reduced my data set to 50 variables. The goal was to

have around of 10 pertinent variables, then using other client’s data I compared the variables I

used and tried reducing the data set with variables that were pertinent in the other models again

zeros and ones. Lastly, I looked for data correlations and if the correlation was between 0.5 and

0.8, I would use that data. I ended up having 8 variables to use and it was all thanks to the mind

mapping tool. The mind map I used was something like the table below.

A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I

Useful  1  0  0  1  1  1  1  0  1

No Blanks  1  1  0  0  1  0  1  0  1

Pertinence  1  0  1  0  1  0  1  1  1

Correlation 1  1  0  0  1  0  0  0  0

Insight

By using the mind mapping tool, I was able to generate a good set of inputs to solve the problem

I was facing. The mind mapping tool is an excellent tool when you have to go from the what is to

the what if phase because it will be a good asset to find insights and patterns on whatever you are

working on. The mind mapping tool is an excellent idea when you don’t have a clear idea of

what to do next. I will help you clarify the next steps of handling a problem. Design thinking will

help you broaden the set of solutions you have given for a problem.

Approach

The next time I use the Mind mapping tool perhaps will be with a more humanized approach

instead of a computerized version of the mind map. One in which I can express my creativity

while creating a more vivid representation of the mind map. With the better representation the

visualization tool will tell a story by its own and more people will understand what I am trying

do.


Mind Mapping Challenge and selection Mind mapping is a very powerful tool that I constantly use in my line of work , I am constantly using data to solve problems . The line of work in which I solve problems is data science , some of the problems relate to problems of demand forecasting , correlations and such . Sometimes finding accurate solutions is very complicated . Using the large amounts of data sometimes is very complicated , but if you start looking for patterns and insights , you can often come up with good criteria for the next step of solving the problem . Mind mapping is a tool to look for patterns and insights . Patterns and insights that will generate more creative solutions to design challenges , after completing the what is mind mapping will create criteria for the what if phase . Application Often , I have been stumped when looking at large amounts of data one example would be the time I was working for this client and he handed me a data set containing more then 300 columns and 1 million lines of data per column . The outcome for the client was finding the best way of generating sells . But looking at the data set I was going nowhere so I used mind mapping . I used a piece of paper and wrote down the names of the columns ( variable name ) , then I placed 1 if I believed the variable was useful and 0 if did n’t believe it was useful . I had successfully reduced the list to around 150 variables which was still too many to generate a good solution . Then with a couple of data handling I looked for data that had blanks and if the data had blanks , I marked a 0 if it did n’t , I marked 1 which reduced my data set to 50 variables . The goal was to have around of 10 pertinent variables , then using other client ’s data I compared the variables I used and tried reducing the data set with variables that were pertinent in the other models again zeros and ones . Lastly , I looked for data correlations and if the correlation was between 0.5 and 0.8 , I would use that data . I ended up having 8 variables to use and it was all thanks to the mind mapping tool . The mind map I used was something like the table below . A B C D E F G H I Useful 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 No Blanks 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 Pertinence 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 Correlation 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 Insight By using the mind mapping tool , I was able to generate a good set of inputs to solve the problem I was facing . The mind mapping tool is an excellent tool when you have to go from the what is to the what if phase because it will be a good asset to find insights and patterns on whatever you are working on . The mind mapping tool is an excellent idea when you do n’t have a clear idea of what to do next . I will help you clarify the next steps of handling a problem . Design thinking will help you broaden the set of solutions you have given for a problem . Approach The next time I use the Mind mapping tool perhaps will be with a more humanized approach instead of a computerized version of the mind map . One in which I can express my creativity while creating a more vivid representation of the mind map . With the better representation the visualization tool will tell a story by its own and more people will understand what I am trying do .