Mind Mapping

1.  Challenge: Describe your challenge, including all relevant information.

We had started a new project several months ago. We are developing a new Core Data  Base system for all transactions of one investment bank.

After we have completed the first part of the project and presented a Demo. Shortly after  demo our boss called up a meeting and said: “Listen guys! We are spending a huge sum  of money on this project and I am not happy how it goes”.  It was like a bolt out of the  blue. No one expected it because everything was on schedule as planned before. So we  said: “But boss, what is wrong? We are doing as we expected?” He shrugged and said  that we are building a new system with latest technologies and outstanding functionality  like we never had before. He also said that he considers us all creative so he is expecting  new ideas and haven’t seen any yet.

2. Selection: In your own words, briefly describe the tool you selected (e.g.,

what it is and why you selected it for your challenge -- including any  appropriate video lecture references).

Mind mapping tool is basically used for getting new insights and patterns for idea  generation process in what if stage. To accomplish this you must organize and present  your data in a way that lets hidden patterns and implications emerge. The general idea is  to present all important information for your peers visibly and at once and then look for  patterns and insights with your team.

Given the request from my boss I said to myself “Why don’t you try this Mind Mapping  tool? Run a workshop with it, get new insights and then get new ideas”.  Said and done.

3. Application: Describe how you applied the tool you selected to your

challenge (e.g., what you did and how the tool was applied effectively or  ineffectively).

We had decided to run a workshop. And had invited about 30 colleagues from other  project teams.

We made several posters with information about new Transactions Core Data Base, its  capabilities and about technology we were using.

Then we run a presentation about Mind Mapping tool and about our workshop’s goals.  After that we gave 30 minutes to our participants to study posters on their own. And we  asked them to write on the sticky notes any new ideas inspired by posters or new  information.

Then we asked participants to split into teams, consisting of five people each and asked  them to share the ideas inside their team and rearrange them in groups or theme clusters.  And gave 20 minutes for that.

After that we asked teams to name their themes, write them on a whiteboard and add  sticky notes that are related to that theme. It took another 20 minutes.

On the next step we asked all teams to look for insight statements related to the themes  and then look for meaningful connections between those statements.

Finally we ask all participants main questions for generating the design criteria: “if  anything were possible, what criteria would a new design meet?”

And it was a success. We have got 25 new ideas for possible solutions for our challenge.

4. Insight: Describe the insight you gained from applying the tool you selected

to your challenge (e.g., how an insight affected your thinking about the  challenge and about design thinking more broadly).

I have learned from this experience that working in a big team gives much more results  that I have expected and design thinking tools help to organize this process well.

I think that we can get unlimited number of ideas and we could use this tool more and  more times to get new ones.  We just need more information and time. This approach  helps to remove all constraint and get new ideas for your challenge.

5. Approach: Describe what you might do differently next time -- applying the

same tool you selected or a different one -- and the reason(s) why.

Next time I will surely use this tool. I really like it and I really like results.

And now I understand that we have to prepare informations more carefully. We have to  spend more time arranging it in posters because sometimes we were used to explain some  data and concepts and were not always precise. I mean that when you are explaining a  concept or a batch of info to the group of people it can be understood differently. Visual  information like images gives a more unified insight.


Mind Mapping 1 . Challenge : Describe your challenge , including all relevant information . We had started a new project several months ago . We are developing a new Core Data Base system for all transactions of one investment bank . After we have completed the first part of the project and presented a Demo . Shortly after demo our boss called up a meeting and said : “ Listen guys ! We are spending a huge sum of money on this project and I am not happy how it goes ” . It was like a bolt out of the blue . No one expected it because everything was on schedule as planned before . So we said : “ But boss , what is wrong ? We are doing as we expected ? ” He shrugged and said that we are building a new system with latest technologies and outstanding functionality like we never had before . He also said that he considers us all creative so he is expecting new ideas and have n’t seen any yet . 2 . Selection : In your own words , briefly describe the tool you selected ( e.g. , what it is and why you selected it for your challenge -- including any appropriate video lecture references ) . Mind mapping tool is basically used for getting new insights and patterns for idea generation process in what if stage . To accomplish this you must organize and present your data in a way that lets hidden patterns and implications emerge . The general idea is to present all important information for your peers visibly and at once and then look for patterns and insights with your team . Given the request from my boss I said to myself “ Why do n’t you try this Mind Mapping tool ? Run a workshop with it , get new insights and then get new ideas ” . Said and done . 3 . Application : Describe how you applied the tool you selected to your challenge ( e.g. , what you did and how the tool was applied effectively or ineffectively ) . We had decided to run a workshop . And had invited about 30 colleagues from other project teams . We made several posters with information about new Transactions Core Data Base , its capabilities and about technology we were using . Then we run a presentation about Mind Mapping tool and about our workshop ’s goals . After that we gave 30 minutes to our participants to study posters on their own . And we asked them to write on the sticky notes any new ideas inspired by posters or new information . Then we asked participants to split into teams , consisting of five people each and asked them to share the ideas inside their team and rearrange them in groups or theme clusters . And gave 20 minutes for that . After that we asked teams to name their themes , write them on a whiteboard and add sticky notes that are related to that theme . It took another 20 minutes . On the next step we asked all teams to look for insight statements related to the themes and then look for meaningful connections between those statements . Finally we ask all participants main questions for generating the design criteria : “ if anything were possible , what criteria would a new design meet ? ” And it was a success . We have got 25 new ideas for possible solutions for our challenge . 4 . Insight : Describe the insight you gained from applying the tool you selected to your challenge ( e.g. , how an insight affected your thinking about the challenge and about design thinking more broadly ) . I have learned from this experience that working in a big team gives much more results that I have expected and design thinking tools help to organize this process well . I think that we can get unlimited number of ideas and we could use this tool more and more times to get new ones . We just need more information and time . This approach helps to remove all constraint and get new ideas for your challenge . 5 . Approach : Describe what you might do differently next time -- applying the same tool you selected or a different one -- and the reason(s ) why . Next time I will surely use this tool . I really like it and I really like results . And now I understand that we have to prepare informations more carefully . We have to spend more time arranging it in posters because sometimes we were used to explain some data and concepts and were not always precise . I mean that when you are explaining a concept or a batch of info to the group of people it can be understood differently . Visual information like images gives a more unified insight .