The challenge

Being an MBA student, I deal with a huge amount of

information on a daily basis. Some are new concepts being

introduced, some are large, mandatory topics that I need to

master; but most of the information comes in a non-organized,

non-structured way, making it harder for me and everyone else

to absorbe and utilize it. So the way I’d phrase the challenge

would be: how can we improve work and study by structuring

information we handle in a simple, yet meaningful way, so we

can quickly have an outline on what it’s about and visualize the

hierarchy and relationship of its topics?

Mind Mapping as the tool of choice

So in order to have an answer to that challenge, I have chosen to

apply the Mind Mapping tool. A mind map can be used to

represent a subject or an idea, structuring the information in a

map-like view. The topic is placed at center of the map (its

starting point) and then the concepts and details, are connected

in a logic, hierarchical way. For example:

The example map above quickly informs the reader about what

the topic is (types of social networks), what are the categories

and sub-categories (gaming, photography,…) and what are some

items within those categories (the social networks like

Facebook, Twitter, etc).

Application and insights

So after learning about the Mind Mapping tool, I started

creating maps at work and also for my MBA course. My insight

was that the tasks or assignments we execute are usually really

repetition of something already done in the past. However,

although they’re known, they are also too big or too complex for

us to rely only on our memories. Here’s where the mind

mapping helps a lot.

The two below are some examples where I’m applying the mind

mapping:

• Starting a new project: using a mind map to

organize the dozens of things that a project manager

has to coordinate has greatly facilitated my work. Every

project basically contains the same items: scope (what’s

in, what’s out), timeline (dates, milestones), costs,

resources (people, equipments), risks and assumptions.

• Learning a new subject: to me, the hardest part of

learning a new subject, is visualizing how big it is and

how its concepts and details are interconnected.

Creating a mind map had a vast positive impact on my

study because I can, as I read through the pages, create

the visual map representation of the subject.

Final considerations

As I reap the benefits of mind maps for both work and study, I

definitely intent to continue using the tool. I have identified

some pitfalls, though. Something I learned in these few weeks is

that the map itself can oversimplify an idea, only scratching its

surface and therefore not including important details. You have

to learn to find the right granularity for the information you’re

mapping. And another potential problem is that, although there

are the “roads” connecting your central subject and its concepts

and specifics, unless you create a narrative, it will be hard to

make sense of what you’re trying to learn/understand. Create a

story in your head that has a beginning, a development and an

ending, so it’s all cohesively tied together and engraved in your

head.


The challenge Being an MBA student , I deal with a huge amount of information on a daily basis . Some are new concepts being introduced , some are large , mandatory topics that I need to master ; but most of the information comes in a non - organized , non - structured way , making it harder for me and everyone else to absorbe and utilize it . So the way I ’d phrase the challenge would be : how can we improve work and study by structuring information we handle in a simple , yet meaningful way , so we can quickly have an outline on what it ’s about and visualize the hierarchy and relationship of its topics ? Mind Mapping as the tool of choice So in order to have an answer to that challenge , I have chosen to apply the Mind Mapping tool . A mind map can be used to represent a subject or an idea , structuring the information in a map - like view . The topic is placed at center of the map ( its starting point ) and then the concepts and details , are connected in a logic , hierarchical way . For example : The example map above quickly informs the reader about what the topic is ( types of social networks ) , what are the categories and sub - categories ( gaming , photography , … ) and what are some items within those categories ( the social networks like Facebook , Twitter , etc ) . Application and insights So after learning about the Mind Mapping tool , I started creating maps at work and also for my MBA course . My insight was that the tasks or assignments we execute are usually really repetition of something already done in the past . However , although they ’re known , they are also too big or too complex for us to rely only on our memories . Here ’s where the mind mapping helps a lot . The two below are some examples where I ’m applying the mind mapping : • Starting a new project : using a mind map to organize the dozens of things that a project manager has to coordinate has greatly facilitated my work . Every project basically contains the same items : scope ( what ’s in , what ’s out ) , timeline ( dates , milestones ) , costs , resources ( people , equipments ) , risks and assumptions . • Learning a new subject : to me , the hardest part of learning a new subject , is visualizing how big it is and how its concepts and details are interconnected . Creating a mind map had a vast positive impact on my study because I can , as I read through the pages , create the visual map representation of the subject . Final considerations As I reap the benefits of mind maps for both work and study , I definitely intent to continue using the tool . I have identified some pitfalls , though . Something I learned in these few weeks is that the map itself can oversimplify an idea , only scratching its surface and therefore not including important details . You have to learn to find the right granularity for the information you ’re mapping . And another potential problem is that , although there are the “ roads ” connecting your central subject and its concepts and specifics , unless you create a narrative , it will be hard to make sense of what you ’re trying to learn / understand . Create a story in your head that has a beginning , a development and an ending , so it ’s all cohesively tied together and engraved in your head .