Wonders of Mind Mapping in
New Product Development
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| Freedom from
Project Surprises Newsletter - Issue #62 |
June 2010 |
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Ever heard of a Mind Map?
Most people either already routinely use them or are completely in the
dark
about them, as I was a year ago. Since I reluctantly made the Mind Map
plunge I
have found them to be of great value early on in any project, helping
greatly
to clarify mission, objectives and strategies. Now I don't do anything
without
first starting with a Mind Map. This month's newsletter will be a
journey to
the wonders of mind mapping in the semi business. And yes, this
newsletter
topic originated as a mind map before I typed the first word.
Jeff Jorvig, IC NPD Coach
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Items of Interest to New Product
Development Teams
Leadership Quote of the month:
"Have you
ever watched a fly bouncing off
a window pane, even with an open door a few feet away? Many times the
fly keeps crashing into the glass until it finally dies. There are many
companies in today's world doing exactly the same thing. They continue
down 'today's path', wearing blinders to the possibility of change...
until they die."
-- Mac
Anderson
Note: I came
across this quote and the first thing I thought was "Terminal Sameness", an expression
and concept I believe should command great attention!
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The Wonders of Mind Mapping
in New Product Development
I got hooked on Mind Mapping a little over a year ago and
now find that it is the beginning of anything I do, from writing blogs
and
newsletters to strategizing detailed proposals for my clients through
planning
out full projects. I now view the mapping process as essential for
helping me
think things through and presenting ideas, concepts and proposals. In
fact the
entire Mind Map for this newsletter is included at the end; you decide
if it
was quicker to read the words or look at the map for information of
interest to
you.
What is a Mind Map?
A completed mind map is simply a pictorial view of concept
expansions, much like an outline on steroids. One difference being an
outline
is linear, whereas a Mind Map is not. The beauty of the map is not so
much the
finished product, but the process in getting there; the thought
processes,
discussions, brainstorming and non-linear thinking utilized in
developing a map.
The key features of a mind map tool typically include
graphics, links, text expansion as well as connectors to indicate
relationships
between concepts. They are graphical tools that allow simple and quick
manipulation of concepts, making them ideal for group brainstorming. An
added
advantage of a hosted web based mind map solution is that it allows for
multiple locations to join in for real time collaboration on a single
map,
great for multi-site brainstorming.
What Mind Map Tools are Available?
There are a variety of client based as well as hosted (web
SaaS) Mind Map solutions available. I prefer the hosted solutions
because they
are platform independent and I can get to my maps from anywhere.
Some hosted solutions even provide for
offline work, making them the best alternative, in my opinion. If you
would
like to review my links to specific tools download my newsletter map
(It will
be a pdf) and click on the various links associated with the "Mind map
tool
links" concept.
Where can Mind Maps be used in the
Semiconductor Biz?
If there is an idea that needs a path to closure, consider
the Mind Map process as the guide. There are multiple areas where I
believe
Mind Maps will provide value in new product development.
Requirements
Gathering
Pulling together features is a great way to leverage a mind
map to easily capture, drill down, prioritize, brainstorm and decide
upon new
product requirements. Use a mind
map in a requirements workshop session or a team meeting and see the
magic of
high-octane collaboration. All levels of requirements such as IP, Chip,
module,
product and system would realize benefit from the Mind Map process to
generate
and sort through possibilities.
The
Product
Development
Process
If you need to brainstorm reasons why the development process
is done a certain way, conceptualize process alternatives, identify
barriers or
hash out the design flow consider a mind map as a guide to capturing
ideas and
guiding the discussion. Large groups, small groups or individuals will
appreciate the non-linear thinking, quick capturing and idea drill down
of the
mind map process.
Product
Portfolio
Hash out the product roadmap, build decision trees or
construct a new product decision process with the use of a mind map.
Once
completed the information can be captured in the standardized forms for
your
organization. Remember, the mind map is guiding the thought process,
not
necessarily producing the final documentation.
Project
Definition
This is my favorite use of a mind map; in the early stages
of planning where the projects are just beginning to form. Brainstorm
to
identify, dismiss and accept project alternatives. Do the same for risk
and
mitigation strategies. Specific task identification, drill down and
development
are a natural for the Mind Map brainstorming process.
Are you a Mind Map Type?
Article
Mind Map - Click for PDF version
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Now the test - review the Mind Map for this
article and decide if it is more efficient for you to scan the text or
utilize
the mind map to retrieve information of interest to you? If the text
wins you
are predominately a linear thinking type. If the mind map was more
advantageous
for you, then welcome to the world of non-linear thinking. Go forth and
map your
way to better ideas, concepts, decisions and collaboration!
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| How I
can Help
"Providing solutions to the systemic project challenges that
quietly steal early revenue opportunity"
- Mind Mapping -
Let me show you how Mind Mapping can bring heightened productivity to
requirements, project planning, portfolio decisions or kicking off a
new project.
- Discovery
& Solution - Do
you need to find and remove the the barriers to a predictable and
streamlined new product flow? Maybe you need to understand the history
of past failed project activities. Our Discovery & Solution
services will provide a cure for Terminal
Sameness before it's too late!
- Requirements
workshops
- I will facilitate the timely closure of a high quality set of
requirements for a specific product. If you have a complicated project
where requirements closure is
critical, this would be an ideal candidate for a workshop. Closure means consensus. More
information can be found here.
-
NPD Flow
Management - Web based best practices, flow, task, deliverable
& monitoring of the project portfolio. Details here.
-
Register
Management - Tool
for synchronization of register information between hardware, firmware,
validation and documentation. Delivers the RTL code, verification code
and documentation for common or custom bus interfaces. A must have for
embedded systems!
-
NPD team one day workshop to improve
planning, execution and
monitoring skills for design projects.
- Ready made downloads:
schedule, checklist, analog design guide.
- Increase management bandwidth via Virtual NPD Coach.
- Full listing of common services here.
Contact me today via email, or phone at
480-442-6730. |
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Feedback
To increase the value of this newsletter for you I would like
to hear your comments.
- What do you like or not like about this
newsletter?
- What subjects would you like to see covered in
the future?
- How is the format?
- Ask me a question related to new product
development and I will anonymously post and answer it here in this
section.
Please email me here with any questions,
comments or suggestions that will help me better serve my readers. I
would enjoy hearing from you.
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