Welcome to the second part of my answers to Chuck Frey's questions. If you missed the first part, check out the Top 10 Software Mapping Mistakes to Avoid here.
In his second question, Chuck is asking when maps are done, a fair question, considering that most people don't know, kind of like when to sell a stock. Here are my answers:
1. A presentation map is done when it's gone through multiple drafts and you have that polished gem that conveys the original point brilliantly. Use the same discipline as you would with any other office document.
2. An information map is done when it houses the information currently available, with the understanding it is to be updated when new instances come up.
3. A project map is done when the project is completed, best practices from that instance have been added back to the template and Support information has been archived. Here's a great project template from Gyronix.
4. An Area Core Map is never done.
5. A Life Core Map is never done.
If you're wondering what an Area Core Map is (#4) and a Life Core Map is (#5), download my free Visual Strategist Solution template package here and be sure to follow the instructions on the download page. It's a complete Mindjet MindManager mindmap framework and file-folder structure to manage the Personal and Professional Realms of your life. If you're a Gyronix fan, it has Gyronix Projects baked in. If not, you can use the Mindjet MindManager Outlook linker to portray Tasks. And definitely use the Outlook linker to portray Contacts and Appointments in mind map form.
You can make your initial mind map very quickly from a document that you are using as the catalyst for your research or project.
Instantly create thematic mind maps of any document or ebook!
MS Word 2007 Add In allows you to create instant MindManager mind maps of your documents based on its thematic content. Themes are represented as Topic Nodes in the mind map. It also produces a Synopsis and Detailed Summary of the document, and allows you to locate every paragraph that contains that theme.
Our partner Mindsystems has released the second and Business Edition of ThemeReader for $100 US. It’s a great product and incorporates Cirilab’s Knowledge Generation Engine technology, and works with XP, Vista, Word 2003 and 2007, WordPerfect X3, and the new MindManager 7. Free Trial. Give it a try!
http://www.mindsystems.com.au/products/themereader/business.htm
Word MindManager ThemeReader = Productivity Improvement
Arnold Villeneuve
Vice President
www.cirilab.com
http://knowledgeuser.typepad.com
Posted by: Arnold Villeneuve | June 24, 2007 at 04:12 PM