zandax online course logo
zandax website search
zandax phone callback
Info, Blogs, Contact & Login
Courses
Tests

How to Use Mind Map Software for Project Management

From the ZandaX Project Management Blog

Articles to help to manage projects on time and on budget

Home  >  ZandaX Blogs  >  Management Blog  >  Project Management Articles  > 
How to Use Mind Map Software for Project Management

How to Use Mind Map Software for Project Management

A post from our Project Management blog

Article author: Jordan James
      Written by Jordan James
Organizations are constantly on the lookout for effective ways of managing their time and money. In project management, we're tasked with coordinating teams, keeping track of intricate workflows and optimising communication.

To do this, we use many different tools, apps, and websites. We use the Pomodoro technique for time management, Basecamp for managing projects, and Kanban to help us uncover workflow problems. But we want more.

One business management tool that is widely used across different industries is the mind map. Commonly used to spark creativity and expand on ideas, it's claimed that Da Vinci used a method of mind mapping in his note-taking. This allowed him to see things which most people could not.

Mind Map
Radiant thinking has been used throughout history for learning, brainstorming and problem solving by everyone from engineers to psychologists. These days, it has become an essential tool in the arsenal of many businesses.

Today, the mind map has been popularised by Tony Buzan, who says it helps people to "present a structure of the problem as a simpler picture". But despite its many applications, is there any place for it in project management?

Project managers already use a wide range of tools to coordinate workflows. Can there be a better way to keep track of the moving parts of the project? A better way to uncover any hidden roadblocks and opportunities?

Critics of mind mapping in project management say its non-linear design over-simplifies project analysis. How true is this?

Mind mapping for Project Management

Project management involves the input and co-operation of different people across teams, and sometimes multiple sites. To ensure project success, it is vital that all the information generated is kept well-organized.

As a visual means of organization, mind maps can be used to make complex project scenarios clearer. This enables project managers to see a full overview of the project, making mind maps an excellent tool for creating work breakdown structures (WBS). In project management, the use of mind mapping software helps to bring all the parts of the project together into one interface.

In the modern mind mapping industry, you can find both stand-alone software options and mobile apps. There are software options that you can use online and offline, ones that have import and export options, ones that allow collaboration, and much more.

Many popular mind map tools also have project management capabilities built in. Whether it's Mindmap, Mindjet, Xmind, Mindnode, here are five ways they can be used in project management.


1) Defining the project

Mind mapping software can be used to create a WBS, which will help you to define a clear objective for your projects. By defining projects this way, the goals for the project can be identified and listed easily. This provides a point of focus for the team while the project is carried out.


2) Project planning

With the project defined and objectives identified, mind mapping enables managers to visualise the front-end of the project. Maps are generally considered an efficient way to display data for clearer understanding, therefore using a mind map to plan can help you reduce information overload.

In the project planning phase, you'd have to list the tasks that need to be done, figure out dependencies, and deduce how long each task will take. With a mind mapping software, all this can be done faster and more accurately.


3) Defining milestones

With a plan in place, your mind mapping software of choice can be used to define project milestones and track the progress of key elements of the project. In some programs, you can append "percentage complete" icons to tasks on the map. This provides a visual cue that allows you to monitor and evaluate your progress using established milestones.

Defining Milestones


4) Defining roles and responsibilities

Mind mapping software can also be used to monitor the resources and team members assigned to each task. By defining team roles like this, you can create sections (branches) on the map to summarise the responsibilities of individual team members. The ability to create hierarchical nodes will also allow you to organize the project team more efficiently, and deploy resources strategically.


5) Scheduling

With the planning and WBS done, the mind mapping software can be converted to a Gantt chart for effective scheduling. When choosing a mind mapping software for project management, look for one with export functionality. With some software, the Gantt view is integrated within the mind mapping software, allowing users to switch easily between project mode and Gantt view.

Conclusion

We know that project management is a specialisation that's already full of different models and methods. However, being able to see the full picture of a project, and all its requirements, is one of the many challenges that project leads face at the start of a project. Because they act like a visual "executive summary," mind maps can communicate an essential overview of your project, and allow project managers to plan the most efficient path to completion.

Whether you use a mind map as a memory aid, a brainstorming tool, or to plan your next project, it's guaranteed to significantly increase your productivity. So, as a powerful yet flexible way of managing projects, mind maps do have a place in project management.



What's your favourite mind mapping software? Which of its features helps you the most?

Back to the Project Management blog

Click the button for more Project Management articles.

The ZandaX Leadership & Management blog

Click a panel for great articles on leadership & management

Write For Us

We pride ourselves on our busy, high-quality and helpful blog, and we're always looking for guest contributors to increase the variety and diversity of what we present.

Click to see how you can write for us with an original and well-written guest post.

ZandaX Blog Contents

Want to see them all? Click to view a full list of articles in our blogs.

Online courses to boost your skills
Click a button to see more about each course
Personal Development
Microsoft Software
 
 
Leadership & Management
Sales & Presentations
Service & Support
 
 
ZandaX online training course logo
ZandaX – Change Your Life ... Today
All content © ZandaX 2023
ZandaX LinkedIn logo
ZandaX LinkedIn logo
ZandaX LinkedIn logo
Close menu element
See how you score on a range of skills that are critical to your well-being and performance
Communication Skill test
Communication Skills
How Can You Communicate Better?
Would you like to see what kind of communicator you are? And how you can improve the effectiveness of your communications?
Likeability test
Likeability
How Much Do People Like You?
Do you sometimes wonder just how likeable you are? And wouldn't you like to see how you can (genuinely) become more likeable?


Time Management test
Time Management
How Can You Make More Use Of Your Time?
Are you frustrated by how easily time slips away? Do you get frustrated when things don't get done just because you run out of time?
Assertiveness test
Assertiveness
Are you Passive, Aggressive or Assertive?
Would you like to know where you fall on the behavior spectrum? Does your response to events sometimes surprise you?


Close menu element
Information & Resources
ZandaX information
Information
Read more about us, our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Service
See how we want to help you, and how we make everything easy for everyone
Callback request
ZandaX Blogs
Articles to increase your knowledge and understanding in key areas of your life and career.
Read our blogs on Personal Development, Business Skills and Leadership & Management


Time Management test
Log In
Log in to your online dashboard
View your courses, review what you want and download your workbooks and certificates
Assertiveness test
Contact Us
An easy online form to get in touch
With options for More Information, Customer Service and Feedback


Close menu element
Develop Your Skills, Knowledge and Understanding with ZandaX
Click any subject in the listings for more information and a full list of courses

Personal Development
Personal Development training
Your soft skills affect everything you do, at work, at home and with friends ... they are truly life changing!
NEW COURSES
Online training courses
Hot Off the Press...
We're always adding to and upgrading our courses, so here are a few of our latest releases:
For a full listing of courses, please visit our Quick Course Finder to find exactly what you want.
Site Cookies
We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better.

You can change your cookie settings in your browser. Otherwise, we'll assume you're OK to continue.

I'm fine with this