Challenge

The tool I use most in our consultancy projects is mind mapping. It helps us find

patterns and common traits of the data we analyze, and eventualy create

solutions or identify possible issues to be solved.

Selection

We  use  this  approach  especially  in  projects  that  aim  at  innovating

products/services by creating or  improving existing ones. In the first stage of the

project, we have to analyse large quantity of data regarding our customer,

industry trends and facts etc. We use Mind Mapping in order to sort out the data

and establish sets of patterns that would allow us to create hypothesis regarding

the project’s scope and directions.

Application

Firstly, we gather all the quantitative and qualitative data we have, such as

customer journey map, personas, value chain, industry key trends etc.  and have

a meeting with the team members (each with different responsabilities) . We put

together all the data and analyze it : each member assesses it and creates

patterns and themes through his/her own perspectives.

Secondly, we map all our insights and have each member create clusters of

themes  by putting together elements she/he considers that are related. The main

questions each one of us must answer when mapping its patterns is „What is

related to what?” , „In which way?” , and „Why do we think that?”.

Thirdly, we have long debates on how our insights relate to each other and create

a list of common points that need to be taken into consideration, transforming it

eventually into criterias of our product/service innovation.

Insight

Using the mind mapping tool, we manage to have a broad perspective of our

project and create new ideas that at a first look, would seem to be out of the

project’s scope, but that actually help us develop a deeper level of understanding

about our clients’ needs and issues .  Through this methodology we discover new

perspectives that helps us generate  „uncommun” ideas and solutions.

Approach

Next time I would invite into our discussion group, persons that are not related to

the project,  outsiders that would make questions and comments about our ways

of seeing things and methods we use in analyzing the project, clearing out at early

stages any preconceived idea we might have.


Challenge The tool I use most in our consultancy projects is mind mapping . It helps us find patterns and common traits of the data we analyze , and eventualy create solutions or identify possible issues to be solved . Selection We use this approach especially in projects that aim at innovating products / services by creating or improving existing ones . In the first stage of the project , we have to analyse large quantity of data regarding our customer , industry trends and facts etc . We use Mind Mapping in order to sort out the data and establish sets of patterns that would allow us to create hypothesis regarding the project ’s scope and directions . Application Firstly , we gather all the quantitative and qualitative data we have , such as customer journey map , personas , value chain , industry key trends etc . and have a meeting with the team members ( each with different responsabilities ) . We put together all the data and analyze it : each member assesses it and creates patterns and themes through his / her own perspectives . Secondly , we map all our insights and have each member create clusters of themes by putting together elements she / he considers that are related . The main questions each one of us must answer when mapping its patterns is „ What is related to what ? ” , „ In which way ? ” , and „ Why do we think that ? ” . Thirdly , we have long debates on how our insights relate to each other and create a list of common points that need to be taken into consideration , transforming it eventually into criterias of our product / service innovation . Insight Using the mind mapping tool , we manage to have a broad perspective of our project and create new ideas that at a first look , would seem to be out of the project ’s scope , but that actually help us develop a deeper level of understanding about our clients ’ needs and issues . Through this methodology we discover new perspectives that helps us generate „ uncommun ” ideas and solutions . Approach Next time I would invite into our discussion group , persons that are not related to the project , outsiders that would make questions and comments about our ways of seeing things and methods we use in analyzing the project , clearing out at early stages any preconceived idea we might have .