Sample Project Maps?

[ROIguy]

I would like to see a sample or two of actual project maps, with To-Do's listed. I noticed there were a couple in the videos bu looks like they weren't included in v2.1.

Walter

[Alex Goodall]

Hi Walter

If you are referring to the video on the sales site, that showed my own personal projects: obviously I cannot include those in the product.

Can you give examples of what you mean by "actual project maps with ToDos"?

All project maps are identical in structure: what differs is the content that you place in the folders.

Alex

[ROIguy]

Thanks for the reply, Alex.

I have the full version of MindManager and I use an add-in called ResultsManager to create dashboards from the actionable content in each map. What I haven't yet seen w/IM-Index is how to use it in conjunction w/actionables.

It seems to be set up to reference collected data, but I'm not seeing the Operations action items in the Project maps that would tell one what needed to be done and by when.

That being said, I thought if I saw an experienced person's map, then I could model their best practices.

If you're not familiar w/ResultsManager then here's the url so that you'll have an idea of how I'm working w/my maps.

http://www.gyronix.com/resultmanager.php

Does that help clear things up about what I'masking?

Walter

[Alex Goodall]

Walter

That link didn't work for me. "Cannot find server".

Maybe its down temporarily, or some local issue from here.

Alex

[ROIguy]

Local issue, I suspect. I was just on there.

Walter

[Alex Goodall]

Walter

The link is working for me now, and I've just taken a look.

The product looks very good, but it's not applicable to the Projects in the IM Index Mind Map.

ResultsManager uses Mind Maps to represent steps and activities in a project, with sequence and ordering and assignment of tasks to individuals etc.

Within the IM Index Mind Map, a Project Map is very different: it is a structure of the documentation/information that you will use/might use on a project. There is no implication of an order of activities (do this first, then do this etc.) in an IMI Project Map.

Another difference is that, because the IMI Project map has to be general enough to be used with just about any IM Project, there is inevitably going to be quite a lot of redundancy there. In other words, for any given project, you are almost certainly not going to use all the topics/folders.

Regards

Alex

[ROIguy]

This is very interesting, Alex.

> ResultsManager uses Mind Maps to represent steps and activities in a project, with sequence and ordering and assignment of tasks to individuals etc.

In my years of using mindmapping and working with other mappers, this represents a best practices usage of mapping as a visual productivity tool, else why not just use a top to bottom To-Do list?

> Within the IM Index Mind Map, a Project Map is very different: it is a structure of the documentation/information that you will use/might use on a project. There is no implication of an order of activities (do this first, then do this etc.) in an IMI Project Map.

Hmmm. Perhaps it's just me, but that seems to be an awkward approach, w/all due respect. In my own work w/mapping and working with KM folks far smarter than I, it's not a project map if the activites associated with the project are not also visually laid out before you, along with the reference data.

As you know, I'm very new to the IM-Index approach. And from our dialogue here, I've looked more at the structure of how it works. From what I can see, IM-Index intends to just manage the information and sort it according to KM best practices. That's a VERY! good thing, and your backend foldering system along with a map that links it all up -- inspired.

The challenge I'm having w/it is that to make this work, I'll have to have at least 2 maps to function as the 'dashboard' for a project -- the IM-Index knowledge map and a map the details the sequence of actions that need to happen to ensure the project is done.

What I need is a "mash-up" of the two, which means I need to create a hybrid . . . which puts me back to square one and the situation that prompted me to purchase IM-Dex in the first place.

Walter

[Alex Goodall]

Hi Walter

In my years of using mindmapping and working with other mappers, this represents a best practices usage of mapping as a visual productivity tool, else why not just use a top to bottom To-Do list?

I have been using Mind Maps for around 6 years: only a few of them are for representing project steps, so I don't agree with the "best practice" statement. It is a good practice, for sure, but there are many other uses of Mind Maps - all equally valid.

Hmmm. Perhaps it's just me, but that seems to be an awkward approach, w/all due respect. In my own work w/mapping and working with KM folks far smarter than I, it's not a project map if the activites associated with the project are not also visually laid out before you, along with the reference data.

Walter, I think it appears awkward only because you are approaching this with a preconception of what it is, and it's not meeting that preconception. The term "Project Map" can perfectly validly be used to refer to a map that structures project information as it can to a map that structures project steps. Just becase you are more familiar with that latter does not mean the former is any less valid.

In order to produce something generic, the best I can do is create a structure for the project information, because that is reasonably generic amongst all IM projects. (Even then, for any one project, many of the information folders may not get used - but that's not really a problem.)

But for each type of IM project, the steps necessary will be different, so there would need to be a separate map for each class of project.

e.g. BUM Marketing, Adsense sites, Product development, Click-Flipping, eBay ...  each of these would require a different project-steps map.

I could go on about the issues and opportunities here for a long time, but I won't.

Finally...

What I need is a "mash-up" of the two, which means I need to create a hybrid

Do you? Are you sure?

What you have in mind would certainly be nice, but is it really worth the effort? The IM Index Mind Map gives you part of the solution ready-made - and now you need to decide: should you spend time creating a more complex work environment, or is your time better spent simply using what you have (which is already hugely better than what 99% of the other IMers have) and moving your business on?

Regards


Alex

[ROIguy]

Hi Alex,

> so I don't agree with the "best practice" statement. It is a good practice, for sure, but there are many other uses of Mind Maps - all equally valid.

Ok, we disagree on this. No problem. And for the record, I never said anyway about other ways being invalid.

> The IM Index Mind Map gives you part of the solution ready-made - and now you need to decide: should you spend time creating a more complex work environment, or is your time better spent simply using what you have (which is already hugely better than what 99% of the other IMers have) and moving your business on?

I agree, in part. IM-Index is only part of the solution and that's they way you designed it -- managing only the information part while leaving fallow the actual Getting Things Done part.

And I do understand your focus was on the more academic aspect of knowledge management. Mine is on how to manage the accumulated/accumulating knowledge while making sure that key Actions are also getting done.

I've found a map to be the best way to do this. And I don't see these as separate or mutually exclusive.

I did arrive w/some preconceptions, thinking IM-Index more of a complete solution rather than a partial one. When I re-read the salesletter, knowing what I know now, I can see where I erred.

Though I'd bet a poll of your users, satisfied and unsatisfied, would reveal that while they can tuck all that data neatly into folders and file it all away correctly -- they won't be able to find it again w/o significant searching.

Somewhere on the Mindjet site or the Gyronix site, I believe there is a study that proves that the deeper one goes vertically in a KM structure (especially in a visual mapping medium) the less likely it be to be found and used again. That's why best practices w/a map favors the horizontal rather than the vertical approach.

But hey, I doubt you'll agree w/that assessment so let's just say we are of two different mindsets about this and just leave it be, eh?

Don’t get me wrong, IM-INDEX is a good product. I just made a mistake in interpreting your sales pitches for it. Though in my own defense, it was inconceivable to my years of experiences w/mapping and mappers that a product would focus only on the knowledge management aspect and not on the application of that knowledge it.

Wishing You Much Success,
 
Walter Terry
http://www.ROIcopywriter.com - Greater ROI Through Strategic Sales Writing