Archive for the 'tools' Category

Istarted mind mapping in the mid '80s. It was part of a program at my company to accelerate our learning. It was coupled with a speed reading program and rapid recall training. For the most part, all three stuck. But it's mind mapping that has been most useful over 20 years later.

Tony Buzan introduced the world to mind mapping. Essentially, it's an association technique for taking notes or collecting thoughts in a word-art fashion. Ideas are linked one-to-the-other making associations. According to Buzan, and in my experience, mind mapping increases your recall and helps make surprising connections of otherwise seemingly unrelated ideas. It is a great approach to use for planning, in preparation for innovation, and when in the midst of doing something creative.

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Last year I suggested mind mapping could be a useful alternative to traditional project planning tools in Tired of MS Project? Try Mind Mapping. Chuck Frey has a new ebook to get you started: Power Tips & Strategies for Mind Mapping Software. The book covers numerous project uses of mind-mapping including: managing task lists, planning a project, managing a meeting, and organizing complex information. Chuck also offers tips for taking advantage of what mind-mapping software has to offer.

I've been mind mapping for more than 20 years. I learned from a Tony Buzan memory technique program. Chuck does a great job of concisely presenting how to take advantage of mind-mapping outside of the usual brainstorming and organizing information. One of the best uses of mind maps I've seen on projects is for building a shared context for the project team, client, and constituents. A mind map is also a great way to capture and convey complicated information. Chuck covers all of that in his book. Give it a try! Also check out Chuck's article How to Use Mind Mapping Software for Project Management for an introduction. Or, try this Mind Map software.

I promised to give you my feedback on my mind-mapping trial. Well, Chuck Frey of Innovation Tools beat me to it. He just did a review of the software I've been trying. I don't have any point for comparison, but Chuck does. See ConceptDraw MINDMAP Pro 3 Product Review - InnovationTools: "ConceptDraw MINDMAP Pro version 3 offers valuable enhancements to polished program". Chuck gives the program 5 stars (out of 5).

My posting earlier this week on using mind-mapping for project planning and management hit a sweet spot. Almost 600 people clicked through to the Innovation Tools site. You'll see more from me on this topic.

I'm tired of traditional project management software. For so many projects MS Project, Suretrak, and P3 are overkill. Want something to handle those projects done by a small project team? Try mind mapping. That's right, the memory technique created by Tony Buzan is being used quite successfully for managing projects. Chuck Frey has a short article in Innovation Tools,
How to Use Mind Mapping Software for Project Management. He describes applications and strategies for their use.

The Innovation Tools site includes a Mind Mapping Resource Center where you'll find reviews, articles, and my favorite Mind Mapping in Eight Easy Steps from the Innovation Network. I've been mind mapping for almost 17 years. This 10 minute tutorial is outstanding!

I'm not managing a project with a mind map just yet. I'm playing with ConceptDraw MINDMAP to see how easy it is to use the tools. But whether or not I find software helpful, I will try the approach on a project that I'm starting later this month. I'll let you know how it goes.

Interested in innovation? Chuck Frey also writes the Innovation Tools Weblog. Add it to your feed reader.

Kudos to Brian Michael Kennemer!! He just published in Projectified an add-in macro for MS Project that calculates Percent of Plan (Promises) Complete (PPC). This is the key measure of planning reliability. Projects done on a lean basis have PPCs that are above 85%. Usual projects are under 50%. Due to the phenomenon of dependence and variation low PPC leads to projects that are late and over budget.

Get Brian's PPC Macro. It's a quick add-in to your MS Project schedules. Now the important question? How do you improve PPC? Start by reviewing these three Project e-Tips:

• 001: Chart the Reliability of Task Completions
• 002: Collect and Post Pareto Data
• 029: Coordinate Action for Project Success

Then put a process in place for making work ready. That process must address and resolve the constraints that keep people from completing a task. Adopt a process that allows people to only start work that is in a condition to be finished. Finally, get project performers to promise completion.

You now know have a measurement tool and a practice for improving planning reliability. Get on with it!