Comments on The Business Analysis Blog: Business Analysis Tool: Mindmaps for documenting B...

Hi Tarun, excellent, go for it, I am enjoying your...

2008-10-08T20:27:00.000+05:30

Hi Tarun, excellent, go for it, I am enjoying your articles keep on keeping on !

--> Vidya: Good to see you here :) Paper and Pen a...

2008-09-30T20:49:00.001+05:30

--> Vidya: Good to see you here :)
Paper and Pen are the best friends of a BA so can't really leave them behind!

The use of Mindmaps (not necessarily the software) helps in making the Brainstorming Sessions more collaborative and at the same time it is easier for us BAs to show what information we are getting from the session then and there.

--> John: Aha! That's really interesting. You gave...

2008-09-30T20:49:00.000+05:30

--> John: Aha! That's really interesting. You gave me another thing to try at the next session. I never could make Brainstorming Sessions collaborative with a Projector but I am going to try this for sure.

Nice post Tarun. I have used the software. It is q...

2008-09-30T19:50:00.000+05:30

Nice post Tarun. I have used the software. It is quite helpful. I also use good ol notepad to jot down my thoughts.

Totally agree Tarun, not all clients are tool savv...

2008-09-28T18:35:00.000+05:30

Totally agree Tarun, not all clients are tool savvy and your right you may have to go for the brownpaper wall. With the mind mapping software and a projector you need to do a bit more prep.

Here is a sample of how we conducted a session for a client who was wanting to optimise value on a project they where implementing.

I am using Mindjet's Mindmanager 6.0, I have created the map before the session begins with the 4 following basic ordering ideas (branches)

* what do we hope to achieve?
* how do we capture information?
* how do we measure success?
* building the Success Measure Model – what, where, who, why, when, how?

My colleague runs through the each of the heading's above using the stickies and brownpaper wall. I am adding branches to the map based on the stickies (I do n't have the map projected on to the wall yet). Once we run through all of the above, we break for coffee, come back and then project the map on to the wall. We now have an overall picture of what we have brainstormed during the session. We can then go through and flesh out and prioritise the requirements. I then can print out the map and export it to word and hand it to the clients as they leave the session.

I have ran sessions where we have skipped the stickies and went straight to the map using the timer and brainstorming function on mindjet's mind manager 6.0, we have done this for IT departments who have been more tools savvy, the example above was for a local government department where it might have been too much to launch straight into mind mapping, horses for courses, I think !

If I was doing the above on my own I would schedule the stickie session before lunch and durning lunch break I would build up the map

--> John: very valuable inputs. Projecting the min...

2008-09-25T01:36:00.000+05:30

--> John: very valuable inputs. Projecting the mindmap itself on the wall is saving one step. Though sometimes your client may not be tools savvy in that case you should go for brownpaper wall.

John do let me know how has been your experience in making the session collaborative, while using the mindmapping software and a projector.

--> Brad: Managing your session takes planning bef...

2008-09-25T01:30:00.000+05:30

--> Brad: Managing your session takes planning beforehand (setup the meeting room before the meeting, be ready with all the stationery, brownpaper wall and whiteboard in place. If you have the luxury of people get someone to assist who can do the tasks like writing on post-its. Else the best way is to make it collaborative so that everyone is involved.

I just realized all of the above tips are for conducting a brainstorming session. Mindmap comes just after the session, if you conduct your brainstorming session in some other manner (every Business Analyst has it's own way) continue with it. But at the end mindmap is something that makes documenting the session easier for me.

Brad do let me know how do you document the brainstorming session?

--> Jamie: Do let me know how was your experience ...

2008-09-25T01:23:00.000+05:30

--> Jamie: Do let me know how was your experience with Mindmaps for documenting Brainstorming sessions.

Excellent post.....I have been using mind mapping ...

2008-09-24T19:39:00.000+05:30

Excellent post.....I have been using mind mapping tools for a number of years now in business analysis. I find they are an invaluable tool for all aspects of the system development life cycle. In brainstorming sessions I have combined the stickies and the mind mapping software projected on to a wall, the visual aspect of the mind map helps to maintain client focus. Ideally after the stakeholder interviews you could prepare a mind map template for your brainstorming session. You would want to have two people doing the session, one facillitating the mind map and another leading the session.....mind mapping is the way forward especially in this agile world

Oh I like this, I will try this in my next Brainst...

2008-09-19T13:39:00.000+05:30

Oh I like this, I will try this in my next Brainstorming session. But I have a basic question if you are busy on the brown paper all the while how you manage the session?

Interesting post. I've never used Mindmaps for bra...

2008-09-08T17:04:00.000+05:30

Interesting post. I've never used Mindmaps for brainstorming, although I can see why they'd be a good idea.