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Mind Mapping: The Swiss Army Knife for the Brain Mind Mapping is a technique used to capture and articulate ideas and thoughts in a fashion that resembles how our minds process information. It is a handy collaboration tool that summarizes ideas and thoughts generated on complex concepts or problems in a simplified and consolidated structure, thereby facilitating creative problem solving and decision making. It helps explore relationships between the various aspects of a problem and inspires creative and critical thinking. Mind mapping involves capturing thoughts and ideas in a non-linear diagram that has no standardized format. It uses images, words, colors, and relationships to give a structure to thoughts and ideas. A mind map comprises a central idea (main topic), secondary ideas (subjects), multiple layers of ideas (sub-topics), connection between ideas (branches) with an associated keyword that explains the relationship. Together, these elements capture and articulate the concept. Figure: The Taxonomy of a Mind Map [Image Source: BABOK v3] Strengths Summarizes and provides structure to complex thoughts, ideas, and information. Facilitates decision-making and creative problem-solving. Assists in translating a large amount of information and hence helps in preparing and delivering presentations. Limitations It may be misused as a brainstorming tool and constrain idea generation. It may not be easy to communicate a shared understanding. Examples: Frequent applications of Mind Mapping are: Manuscripts and ‘cribs’ for lectures and presentations Notes from texts and books Notes from talks, presentations, and discussions Project management Knowledge management Exam preparation Arranging a shopping list Taking notes on a longish magazine article Taking notes on a TV documentary or while watching the news Creating a Mind Map of your ‘to do’ list (of course in the form of a Mind Map and not a list!) Minuting your next meeting with a colleague Setting up a packing list for your next holiday or business trip. You can see the personal packing list for business trips below figure; [Image Source: Mind Mapping For Dummies]