Orange Restricted

Reflection – Mind Mapping

Challenge

In my work field we are used to face challenges adapting new and old technologies  to our customers needs, but in order to allow these adaptations to become a  company product we need to identify the best way to obtain a solution that will fit  most with very little adaptations.

In IT is common that customer expect unique designs for each of them, but most  will not want to pay the cost of a fully customized solution, therefore we constantly  have to go over a design process with several iterations until we find the right  product that will suit them in a comfortable price.

Selection

Mind mapping is one of the best tools we have, to find patterns of a technology that  matches most of our customers.

Given that we are in IT have been doing homeworking for longer than most before  the pandemic, we use tools like Visio (or even Paint sometimes) to come up with  our doodles, even though this might not be the normal tools most people would  choose, they are simple to use, and most colleagues and customers feel actually  very comfortable with them.

Application

Every time a new technology or a change of concept comes into place, prior to the  mind mapping, we start gathering information over how it´s developing, what  customers may need this more urgently, which ones will eventually ask for it, what  different needs they may have, will this new idea require integration with other  things, what types of things we might reuse from the past and so on.

One you have all your information gather in the What Is phase (we use previously  process information, prior to setting up the board), we start to classify them and  see what patterns we can find with it. Similarities will often present themselves  easy if the data is well classified, but even a single input may change the  classification and turn your map around, and you have to be open to change  directions if the new input is good.

After the mind map is set, we present this to our other team that may vary from  customer facing technicians to sales. This will help us obtain a different view from  people with different insight from our customers, and will help us cluster useful  ideas, sometimes it will even provide the prospect customer that might be willing to  co-innovate in the next phases.

Orange Restricted

Every insight obtained from these meetings help us to align in the best design  criteria at the moment and set an initial course to move on.

Insight & Approach

One thing that I have learn from using mind maps is that it is easy to get lost in  ideas and lose too much time to get to a point, that is why is important to fist  identify the right people for the group and keep it small.   Sometimes iteration of the process turns to be more beneficial time wise and will  allow you to get more exposition to several different groups that in the end will  provide better insight and results.  And finally if you work remote like me, do not try to do all of this offline (one makes  comments and then share it with the others until everyone does the same), take  the time to make meetings, have someone present the board and get everyone to  comment and propose changes, I like when people ask to control the board instead  of just telling the other what to connect or move or write.


Orange Restricted Reflection – Mind Mapping Challenge In my work field we are used to face challenges adapting new and old technologies to our customers needs , but in order to allow these adaptations to become a company product we need to identify the best way to obtain a solution that will fit most with very little adaptations . In IT is common that customer expect unique designs for each of them , but most will not want to pay the cost of a fully customized solution , therefore we constantly have to go over a design process with several iterations until we find the right product that will suit them in a comfortable price . Selection Mind mapping is one of the best tools we have , to find patterns of a technology that matches most of our customers . Given that we are in IT have been doing homeworking for longer than most before the pandemic , we use tools like Visio ( or even Paint sometimes ) to come up with our doodles , even though this might not be the normal tools most people would choose , they are simple to use , and most colleagues and customers feel actually very comfortable with them . Application Every time a new technology or a change of concept comes into place , prior to the mind mapping , we start gathering information over how it´s developing , what customers may need this more urgently , which ones will eventually ask for it , what different needs they may have , will this new idea require integration with other things , what types of things we might reuse from the past and so on . One you have all your information gather in the What Is phase ( we use previously process information , prior to setting up the board ) , we start to classify them and see what patterns we can find with it . Similarities will often present themselves easy if the data is well classified , but even a single input may change the classification and turn your map around , and you have to be open to change directions if the new input is good . After the mind map is set , we present this to our other team that may vary from customer facing technicians to sales . This will help us obtain a different view from people with different insight from our customers , and will help us cluster useful ideas , sometimes it will even provide the prospect customer that might be willing to co - innovate in the next phases . Orange Restricted Every insight obtained from these meetings help us to align in the best design criteria at the moment and set an initial course to move on . Insight & Approach One thing that I have learn from using mind maps is that it is easy to get lost in ideas and lose too much time to get to a point , that is why is important to fist identify the right people for the group and keep it small . Sometimes iteration of the process turns to be more beneficial time wise and will allow you to get more exposition to several different groups that in the end will provide better insight and results . And finally if you work remote like me , do not try to do all of this offline ( one makes comments and then share it with the others until everyone does the same ) , take the time to make meetings , have someone present the board and get everyone to comment and propose changes , I like when people ask to control the board instead of just telling the other what to connect or move or write .