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Friday, 10 of September of 2010

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From Point A to Point B


 We’re here. We need to get there. But how?

(Well, that’s project management summed up in under 10 words. But I’m sure you probably want a little more than that, right?)

I found a great post by friend and colleague, Josh Nankivel on the powers of using mind mapping as a project management tool.

In short, a mind map is an amazingly effective brainstorming tool which allows you to keep your thoughts organized in a series of hubs and spokes as you continue to build out.  It’s not as linear as “traditional brainstorming” and quite frankly, that’s a good thing.

This weekend, I will be leading a workshop with a group of high schoolers attending an entrepreneur camp.  I’m the “kick off” speaker, and I get to shape their tender little minds for 3 whole hours, talking about the importance of creativity.  I’m going to approach this workshop with all of the energy and ADD that this “old guy” (which, in the eyes of the average high schooler, I am) can muster.  One of the tools they will learn is mind mapping.

After reading Josh’s post and watching the video, you may be curious where this tool (and creativity in general) have a role in project management.  The answer?  ALL OVER THE PLACE (i.e., from initiation through closure).  Let’s review some ways this tool may come in handy:

  • Initiation: problem development and solution generation
  • Planning: identifying tasks and brainstorming for possible risks
  • Execution: issue tracking and resolution
  • Closure: lessons learned

If you’re in project management, creativity is a survival skill.  You will be called upon to be creative at the drop of a hat. If you are not naturally creative, you’d better surround yourself with people who are… and you’d better develop the skill yourself.

While project plans and schedules tend to be somewhat linear, the projects themselves rarely are.

Carpe Factum!

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